2020,

Arts of the Working Class

2020,

2018

Lynarstraße

38

Berlin

13353

artsoftheworkingclass.org

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Ausstellung und Markt zum Launch der 13. Ausgabe, 2020

To run a space is a form of appreciation of other artists, it is an outcome of friendship and mutual understanding; it is an indication of trust between all involved. To run a space means to take responsibility. To run a space is not only self-organization – money may not be vital to put up a show – but it is for sure necessary to animate a space and keep it alive. The prize comes due to hard and merited work, but maybe a grant would be more befitting than a prize? Maybe an iron scaffold holding up a structure in advance is better suited than a gold star for accomplishments? To run a space is a full time job. A group of artists who share their enthusiasm, interests, time, and skills would impart a project with a larger circulation of assignments between the makers. I am convinced that the longevity and success of a space relies on a horizontally organized (net) work.The pandemic gave us a pause and became a forced hiatus. For us, it didn’t make sense to organize events or to move into the digital space during the last year. A willingness to think outside the box, to implement short-term funding, and to listen to the needs of the community. Not everyone requires long term investments; others would like to apply for EUR 500 to develop a project for next month. These quick, low-cost funding opportunities are not clearly available yet. When implementing initiatives, first think about the places and the people you are trying to serve. Requiring project spaces to have a program mapped out six months in advance, or ask for only German-language applications is not responding to the community.Durch die vermehrten Fördermöglichkeiten kann ich als Projektraumbetreiberin weiterhin komplett unabhängig von einer Marktorientierung agieren. Diese Entwicklung ist sehr positiv. Denn gerade in der Randlage Marzahn-Hellersdorf kann es keine marktorientierten Überlegungen für die Ausrichtung eines Programms geben. Es gibt kein touristisches Publikum. Das Publikum generiert sich aus den Menschen vor Ort. Für Marzahn-Hellersdorf bedeutet dies, dass sich die Menschen oft in prekären finanziellen Situationen befinden, eine marktorientierte Ausrichtung passt nicht in diesen Kontext. Die Themen Stadtmitte − Peripherie, öffentlicher Raum und/oder Rechtspopulismus können nicht marktorientiert verhandelt werden.