Dear artists, visitors, friends, and partners of Kunstverein Tiergarten,
Last year, Kunstverein Tiergarten celebrated 20 years of successful exhibition programs in Moabit. Today, we have learned:
GALERIE NORD | KUNSTVEREIN TIERGARTEN IS OVER!
After long and hard disputes over the past few months, Galerie Nord | Kunstverein Tiergarten will be history in just a few weeks. Our civic engagement is being trampled on—and without good reason. This is being done by our long-standing cooperation partner, the Mitte District Office, Department of Art, Culture, and History.
In the summer of 2025, the Mitte District Office publicly put up for tender the gallery space that we have been operating for 21 years – and yes, we were also allowed to apply. However, the jury awarded the bid to someone else. As a result, 21 years of successful and widely supported exhibition activities with international appeal are now history.
We are appalled and stunned!
The tender has been justified on procedural grounds. Although numerous renowned institutions from the arts and culture sector as well as Berlin artists and politicians have publicly spoken out against the procedure, the Mitte district office has nonetheless chosen to proceed with the tender.
What does this say about the division of roles between the cultural administration (Department of Art, Culture, and History) and political decision-makers in shaping the cultural landscape in Mitte? Stefanie Remlinger, a mayor who is also the municipal councilor for culture, did not use her discretionary power to protect a sustainable and successful cultural institution, contrary to her own assurances. A successful structure is being unnecessarily destroyed, putting voluntary civic engagement at risk: So what happened to the rightfully demanded sustainability? What kind of cultural policy vision exactly is being pursued here?
We call on district politicians to review this procedure and ensure that the criteria for judging and awarding competitions are made transparent. We call on the district council and the culture committee of the BVV Mitte to investigate how the cultural administration is using its legal powers to override the will of the population without exercising its discretionary powers.
All citizens of Moabit, all Berlin artists, and anyone else who would like to comment on this matter is welcome to contact the district mayor, Ms. Remlinger, who, as mentioned, is also responsible for culture: bezirksbuergermeisterin@ba-mitte.berlin.de.
We do not yet know whether we will have the energy and time to organize a closing event. However, one thing is for sure: on December 31, 2025, it will be over for good!
So please join us for our very last opening at Galerie Nord: On Friday, November 14, 2025, at 7 p.m., we will open the exhibition MAP 2025 – Arrival? Bremen – Hanoi – Berlin.
Let us come together once again and celebrate the arts!
With sincere and heartfelt appreciation for your longstanding support and with warm regards,
Your Board of Kunstverein Tiergarten