Reinventing Berlin's Heart: CDU Secures the Old Mint for Decades as a Cultural Haven
Maintain the classic coin as a lasting cultural site, advises CDU - Conservatives Successfully Secure Historic Coin Designation as a Permanent Cultural Landmark
Get ready, culture vultures! The Old Mint, nestled in the heart of Berlin, is going to be a vibrant cultural hub for the long haul. The state has inked a deal to rent a significant chunk of the historic minting facility at Molkenmarkt to Spreewerkstätten, a event organizer and club operator, for at least 20 years, with the option to extend the contract by another 10 years. Spreewerkstätten has been breathing life into this location, hosting a mix of theater, jazz, free scene, and clubs, even providing space for the alternative community.
Christian Goiny, CDU's faction's spokeperson for housing, media, and club culture, shared that this move fulfilled a commitment made over a decade ago by both the CDU and SPD. "Securing a precious Berlin cultural landmark for the long term, even for the alternative scene, has been achieved," Goiny told the German Press Agency, hinting at the impending discussion of the agreement in the cultural committee later in the day.
Rent, Investment, and Renovation
Under the deal, Spreewerkstätten will pay 613,560 euros per year in rent, including additional costs and maintenance, amounting to 12.27 million euros over 20 years. Additionally, Spreewerkstätten has agreed to invest at least 18 million euros into the property over 20 years. The state, on the other hand, will cover approximately 33 million euros for renovation, excluding areas not used by Spreewerkstätten. Originally, around 49 million euros were allocated for renovation, but with Spreewerkstätten's substantial investment in the building's upkeep, the state will save around 15 million euros, which can now be channeled into other cultural locales.
Profitable Partnership
Good news for cultural enthusiasts, the deal also includes a profit-sharing clause with the operator obliged to pay a portion of profits above a certain threshold to the state. According to Goiny, the contract struck a balance between financial considerations and the state's commitment to cultural projects, even in challenging economic times.
A Long-Running Planning Process
The idea of finding sustainable uses for the Old Mint in the best city center location has been a topic of discussion for over a decade. Despite proposals from Berlin's former cultural senator, Klaus Lederer (Left), who envisioned an independent free cultural scene utilizing the building complex, and musician Till Brönner's advocacy for a "House of Jazz," concrete plans for implementation or financing were scarce.
Controversy Over Long-Term Lease
Not everyone is rejoicing at the news. Critics, such as the self-proclaimed coalition of the free scene, have voiced concerns, calling the current concept a "culture catastrophe" for Berlin. They argue that instead of securing a space for artistic projects within the community, it is now being handed over to a private, commercial creative company. There's a lack of clarity on how the private operator will allocate spaces for cultural use to the free scene.
[1] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/alte-muenze-will-kultur-location-bleiben/27350784.html[2] https://www.faiz.de/stadtberlin/alte-muenze-bleibt-kulturlocation-spreewerkstaetten-durchnachtet-den-vertrag/61698176.html
- In the heart of EC countries, particularly Berlin, the Old Mint is soon to become a haven for vocational training in lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, and sports, as it undergoes transformation under a new cultural hub deal.
- As the Old Mint is reimagined as a bustling cultural hub, residents and visitors of Berlin can look forward to enjoying a diverse range of vocational training programs geared towards enhancing their skills and hobbies.
- With the Old Mint now secure as a cultural landmark for the coming decades, fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts may find opportunities to brush up on their skills, food connoisseurs can discover new culinary techniques, and home-and-garden enthusiasts can learn innovative strategies to beautify their living spaces.
- Travel aficionados, car lovers, and sports fans may also find vocational training programs tailored to their interests, making the Old Mint an attractive destination for lifelong learning and personal development in EC countries.
