Art on the move: Open Studios in Reinickendorf invite you to discover!

Art on the move: Open Studios in Reinickendorf invite you to discover!

On November 1st and 2nd, 2025, the AR_29 studio floor will open its doors to the public as part of the “Open Studios” event. Since its founding in April 2013, this German-Berlin art institution has developed into an important location for the creative scene in Reinickendorf. Mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner and City Councilor for Culture Harald Muschner will take part in the opening, which will take place at Auguste-Viktoria-Allee 29, 13403 Berlin. Admission is free, so art enthusiasts can discover the works of 21 artists in various disciplines.

The AR_29 studio floor extends over more than 1,000 square meters and offers space for painting, graphics, photography, sculpture, installation, performance and video. This diversity helps to promote dialogue between artists, audiences and actors from culture, science and politics. Regular events such as exhibitions, readings, concerts and international artist exchanges form the community's lively program. AR_29 has established itself as an important part of the Berlin art scene not only in Reinickendorf, but also beyond.

Challenges for the art scene

Despite these successes, the AR_29 studio floor, like many other studio locations in Berlin, is faced with serious problems. The lease expires in February 2026, endangering the future of the studio community. There are currently over 1,000 subsidized work spaces for around 15,000 visual artists in Berlin, but rising rents and cuts in studio funding are making the situation increasingly tense. The funding from the Senate is reduced from the original 45 million to just 22 million euros annually, which means that 30% of the subsidized rooms are in danger, as studio representative Julia Brodauf reports. The creative city of Berlin could soon lose its well-known image as an art metropolis.

The challenges are not just limited to financial resources. An artist like Anja Schrey, who has been working in a subsidized studio for over ten years, is faced with high commercial rents, which in Neukölln, for example, amount to an average of 25 euros per square meter. The migration of artists from Berlin to other cities such as Hamburg or Leipzig is leading to an increasing loss of artistic diversity and a decline in the creative scene that flourished after reunification and shaped Berlin's reputation as an art metropolis.

The role of AR_29 in the art scene

During these difficult times, the AR_29 studio floor has established itself as one of the first studio spaces in Reinickendorf to be funded by the Berlin Senate. Their international community of artists is not only dynamic, but also culturally inviting for those interested in culture from all over Berlin. In addition to the regular “Open Studios”, the artists from AR_29 are always in contact with local actors and maintain collaborations with institutions such as the Reinickendorf Office for Further Education and Culture as well as the Humboldt Library and the Graphothek Berlin. This networking not only ensures the continued existence of the studio community, but also strengthens cultural dialogue at a time when artistic space in Berlin is becoming increasingly scarce.

The challenges and artistic exchange show how important platforms like AR_29 are for preserving and promoting contemporary art in Berlin. Given the critical situation in the art scene, political solutions must be found to ensure the existence of these creative centers. Because cultural diversity and artistic dialogue are essential to the city's identity. The next two days of “Open Studios” should show how strong the local art scene is despite the challenges and uncertainties.

For more information about the AR_29 studio floor and its events, visit the website ar29.de. You can also find current developments and reports on the art scene in Berlin at rbb24 and berlin.de.