Berlin's New Curators: From Independent Labs to a New Establishment
The art landscape in Berlin has evolved from a space for experimentation to one of fierce competition. A new wave of curators, such as Anna Gritz from Haus am Waldsee, Lisa Long of the Julia Stoschek Foundation, and Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, who has moved from Savvy Contemporary to Haus der Kulturen der Welt, is transforming the scene. Curators are now taking on roles akin to project managers and fundraisers. Project spaces serve as incubators for innovative ideas, which contribute to major institutions like Gropius Bau and Hamburger Bahnhof. The Berlin Biennale is embracing collective, decolonial approaches, with collaboration from curators like Kathrin Bentele and Jenna Sutela. Despite challenges from rising costs and real estate issues, Berlin continues to be a hybrid hub focused on cultural production, with the future of curatorial practice at a crossroads between creativity and management.
Key facts
- Berlin's art system has become competitive and corporate, absorbing innovation quickly.
- New curators are less theoretical and more operational, acting as project managers and fundraisers.
- Anna Gritz directs Haus am Waldsee; Lisa Long was director of Julia Stoschek Foundation.
- Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung moved from Savvy Contemporary to Haus der Kulturen der Welt.
- Project spaces now function as incubators rather than alternatives.
- Independent projects have a visibility window of two to three years.
- Institutions like Gropius Bau and Hamburger Bahnhof have adopted more experimental formats.
- Berlin Biennale has shifted to collective, decolonial models.
- Paris and London have strengthened their positions with more aggressive strategies.
- Berlin remains a hybrid space where cultural production precedes economic valorization.
- Rising costs and real estate pressure threaten sustainability.
- Curators now require entrepreneurial skills for funding and partnerships.
- The new generation is building the next establishment through progressive system updates.
- The key question is whether this will change the rules or just make them more efficient.
Entities
Artists
- Anna Gritz
- Lisa Long
- Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung
- Kathrin Bentele
- Jenna Sutela
- Klaus Biesenbach
- Udo Kittelmann
- Nicola Violano
Institutions
- Haus am Waldsee
- Julia Stoschek Foundation
- Savvy Contemporary
- Haus der Kulturen der Welt
- Gropius Bau
- Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art
- Berlin Biennale
- Artribune
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Paris
- France
- London
- England