2021,

COVEN BERLIN

2021,

2013

Initiative

covenberlin.com

Kiona Hagen Niehaus, Dr. Self, video work in the frame of PROBAND WERDEN, Foto: Billie Sara Clarken

future babies, performance in the frame of the exhibition LUCKY, 2018, Foto: Judy Landkammer

The word “project space” is almost misleading to me. Projects do not have to take place in spaces. Radio shows, Instagram takeovers, and outdoor screenings are also projects. To focus on the aspect of space itself is to take a narrow view of what could – and is – happening in Berlin at the moment. The ideal project space would come with a budget for production and overhead costs. Ideally, also the curators ought to get paid.Funding and access to funding is a key element in sustaining project spaces. There are many funding tools that project spaces can use to cover the costs of labor, materials, and rent. But the options are competitive and usually involve a lot of effort and paperwork. In our opinion, there needs to be a change in the funding system that includes simplifying the application process and shortening the waiting time between submission and announcement of the result. Only like this can the project space keep the momentum and focus on artistic and curatorial projects.Verwertungslogik und Karrieredenken unter den „alternativen“ Projekten haben zugenommen, neue Strategien nähern sich eher dem Markt an, statt eine alternative Arbeitsweise zu verkörpern/zu leben, damit stirbt ein großes Stück der „alten“ Einstellungen und Haltungen und auch ein großes Stück des experimentellen Berlins. Optimistisch betrachtet: Immer wieder Lücken nutzen und das Unmögliche machen und leben.