27.10.2025 | We have good news: FABiK will remain!

A few weeks ago, it seemed as if a key cultural policy instrument in Berlin was about to disappear: FABiK – the fund for exhibition fees for visual artists. There was widespread outrage in Berlin's independent scene, as the abolition would have affected many who already work under precarious conditions.  

We recall the words of our co-spokesperson Birgit Cauer:

"What cynicism such a decision reflects. The income opportunities of those who provide art and cultural experiences in our city, mostly low-threshold, often free of charge and accompanying, are simply no longer being rewarded. The Berlin model for exhibition fees, which has been groundbreaking for the whole of Germany since 2016, will now no longer be able to celebrate its first 10th anniversary in January 2026 due to this budget cut."
 

But now there has been a turnaround: the decision has been reversed, FABiK will remain!   

The political decision to abolish FABiK has been reversed and officially confirmed by Cerstin Richter-Kotowski, State Secretary for Culture, at the 75th anniversary celebration of bbk berlin.

Fair pay ensures free art!

Respect and recognition also mean payment: artistic practice is not a hobby, but a profession that, like all other professions, must be fairly remunerated.

We are therefore all the more pleased (and we are happy to repeat ourselves) to announce:  

FABiK will remain!