Berlin's Art Scene Assessed by Local Experts in 2013 Roundtable

In March 2013, ArtReview gathered Berlin art world figures to evaluate the city's evolving creative landscape. Panelists included Alexander Schröder of Galerie Neu, Heike Tosun of Soy Capitán, Thomas Köhler from Berlinische Galerie, curator Heike Fuhlbrügge, and artist Katja Strunz. They noted Berlin's transformation from a 1990s hub of cheap rent and artistic freedom toward professionalization and rising costs. Gallery locations shifted from Auguststrasse to Potsdamer Strasse and Kreuzberg 36, maintaining dynamism. Collector Timo Miettinen's Salon Dahlmann provided a platform for private collection exhibitions. International curators like Okwui Enwezor and Massimiliano Gioni were seen as less likely to take permanent positions in Berlin. The Berlin Biennale, launched in 1998, remained a key event despite mixed receptions. Museums faced budget constraints, with Köhler citing lack of exhibition and purchasing funds. The abc art fair emerged as a more flexible alternative to the defunct Art Forum Berlin. Artists continued to value Berlin's accessibility and spontaneous culture, though studio affordability became a concern. The discussion highlighted tensions between commercialization and the city's improvised character.