Berlin's Art Scene: Is It Over?

Thibaut de Ruyter explores the art landscape in Berlin, raising concerns about its appeal for artists due to soaring rental prices—€600 for a small shared room—and the necessity to seek affordable studios outside the city center. Nevertheless, Berlin is still more affordable than Paris, London, or New York. The city's previous housing surplus is no longer viable, and critics fail to acknowledge the normalization process. Key issues include the absence of a major international airport, no contemporary art museum, the shutdown of the Art Berlin fair, expensive renovations of a Prussian palace, the possible closure of Galeries Lafayette, and political controversies surrounding the Bauakademie foundation. Younger artists are increasingly drawn to regional support in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, or Hamburg. Despite this, Berlin's distinct cultural offerings continue to raise questions about artists' reasons for leaving.