26.11.2025 | Press release by bbk berlin:The houses in the 2025 studio subsidy program will remain in place beyond 2026

Around 300 studio leases will expire in the next two fiscal years. The political will to secure them is there, and financial security does not seem to be a problem either. 

At the beginning of the week, there was another verbal assurance from the State Secretary for Culture, Cerstin Richter-Kotowski, that the existing studio spaces would be secured. In response to a question from Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow, Member of the Berlin House of Representatives (SPD): “How does the Senate Administration plan to secure the existing contracts?”, Richter-Kotowski replied: “In the case of Hobrechtstraße, the contract has been extended until June 30, 2030, so it has been extended.”

Frauke Boggasch, co-spokesperson for bbk berlin: “Visual artists are the ones who suffer when a home-grown problem threatens, one that has less to do with a lack of money and more to do with budgetary uncertainties.”

We expressly welcome the news that the studios on Hobrechtstraße have been secured. The efforts of the artists—their demonstrations and their ongoing commitment to preserving their workspaces—have had an impact. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains. Even now, at the end of November, a total of 60 studio spaces in Schönstedtstraße (contract expires on December 31, 2025) and Tromsöer Straße (contract expires on February 28, 2026) are still waiting for a binding, written guarantee of continued occupancy.

In the Committee for Culture, Engagement, and Democracy Promotion, the State Secretary for Culture also responded to the SPD's inquiry about securing existing contracts, stating that new leases are currently not possible. However, leases that expire this year or next year would be extended – provided that the respective owners so wish. However, there is currently no written commitment regarding the release of the funds earmarked in the budget to ensure that this can be implemented.

Birgit Cauer, co-spokesperson for bbk berlin: “The Senate must finally remove the existing uncertainties and create a transparent, legally binding guarantee for all subsidized studio spaces. This is the only way to permanently protect the workspace program and thus the livelihoods of many artists.”

Frauke Boggasch und Birgit Cauer,
Sprecherinnen bbk berlin