Securing the Old Mint: CDU's Long-Term Cultural Hub in Berlin's Heart
CDU Advocates for Permanent Cultural Preservation of the Historic Mint Building - Conservatives Protest Successful Preservation of Historic Coin as Cultural Landmark for Future Generations
Get ready to dig into the deets! The Old Mint, nestled centrally in the vibrant heart of Berlin, is going to remain a cultural haven for the foreseeable future. CDU has inked a 20-year lease agreement, with an option to extend by up to a decade, for vast sections of the former minting facility located at Molkenmarkt. Club operator and event organizer Spreewerkstätten has been given the keys, and they've been jammin' and craftin' wonders there for a while now, with space for the free scene and much more.
Christian Goiny, the CDU faction's housing, media, and club culture spokesperson, spilled the beans to the German Press Agency about the arrangement, which will be tabled for discussion in the cultural committee later in the day. According to Goiny, the contract is a fulfillment of a decade-old commitment made by both CDU and SPD. The Old Mint's status as a significant Berlin cultural landmark has been permanently protected, and the operator has promised to preserve the current medley of theater, jazz, free scene, and club events.
Operator and the state are teaming up for a grand plan
Goiny revealed that Spreewerkstätten will cough up €613,560 per year in rent, including miscellaneous costs and maintenance, amounting to €12.27 million over 20 years. The operator has also pledged to invest at least €18 million in the property over those two decades. As for the state, they'll be shelling out approximately €33 million on renovations, focusing on structural repairs and areas not used by Spreewerkstätten.
Originally, around €49 million were set aside for renovations in a special fund, as Goiny explained. With the tenant now investing substantially in the building's upkeep, the state is standing to save around €15 million, which can now be reallocated for enhancements at other cultural spots.
Profits, shared with the state, will be sweet
Goiny also highlighted a unique contract clause that mandates the operator to share a portion of their profits with the state, once a certain benchmark is reached. "This contract represents a fair balance between economic and cultural engagement, as well as exhibiting solidarity with the state's stretched budget situation," declared the CDU parliamentarian.
Decades in the making, the Old Mint's future is finally set
Thoughts about the Old Mint's sustainable utilization in the city center's prime location have danced in the hearts of many for over a decade. Berlin's former cultural senator, Klaus Lederer (Left), championed a vision involving the free cultural scene, notably in music, autonomously utilizing the complex. The Old Mint was considered a potential home for a "House of Jazz," championed by musician Till Brönner. However, concrete ideas for implementation or funding were scarce.
Controversy looms over the long-term lease
Not everybody's thrilled with the current setup. The coalition of the free scene recently slammed the model as a cultural disaster for Berlin. "Rather than securing a communal space for creative endeavors, it's being handed over to a private, commercial creative company," read the statement. However, there's no clear blueprint for how the private operator will allocate spaces for cultural purposes within the free scene.
- Despite the controversy, the Old Mint in Berlin's heart will serve as a cultural hub for the next two decades, providing vocational training, theater, jazz, free scene, and club events, thanks to the lease agreement signed by CDU.
- As part of the agreement, the operator will invest in home-and-garden improvements, cultivating a lifestyle conducive to artistry and creativity while generating profits that will help sustain the property and other cultural landmarks in the city.
