Commitment authorizations remain uncertain

The Co-Studio Representative for Berlin, Julia Brodauf, on the current status (December 8, 2025) of commitment authorizations (VEs) and the preservation of endangered studios:

“In the so‑called ‘final reading’ in the Budget Committee, there were no changes to the items concerning studio funding within the ARP. At the same time, a report on the total rental costs was presented — however, it remains confidential.”

And further:

“We assume that the coalition has thus ensured that the necessary funds to preserve all spaces have been secured.

Regarding the VEs, however, the statement remained as vague as ever:
They exist, but each individual case requires separate approval. For the artists, this means that their situation is safe in the short term, but still uncertain in the long run. The budget is scheduled to be adopted on December 18.”

Further background is provided by the bbk berlin’s press release from November 26, 2025: Over the next two fiscal years, around 300 studio rental contracts will expire. The political will to safeguard them is there, and financial backing does not seem to be the problem. Yet, as of early December, a total of about 60 studio spaces — for instance on Schönstedtstraße (lease ending December 31, 2025) and Tromsöer Straße (lease ending February 28, 2026) — are still waiting for a binding, written confirmation of their continued existence. The question regarding the release of the commitment authorizations remains unanswered.