Berlin clubs declared cultural institutions
After more than a year of the Berlin clubs fighting for their rights to be recognized as cultural institutions and make them and music venues legally equivalent to concert halls, operas and theaters rather than being included in the same category as casinos and brothels, yesterday the Berlin building and planning committee finally declared in their favour. A historic decision promoted in a long campaign by the SPD, Die Linke, and Grüne parties in collaboration with members of the CDU and with the opposition of AfD and FDP that still must be finally ratified today by the federal government. Although according to politician Caren Lay (Die Linke), its approval does not seem to be in danger.
““With today’s decision, the Bundestag is sending a strong and long overdue signal to the republic. Music clubs are cultural institutions that shape the identity of city districts as an integral part of cultural and economic life. Now, an outdated law is to be adapted to reality. This helps to keep cities and neighborhoods alive and liveable and to protect cultural places from displacement.””
But what does this extraordinary achievement exactly mean? Well, being considered cultural spaces, clubs will see their VAT decrease from 19% to 7%, they will have access to public funding, they will be permitted to operate in more parts of the city and avid property developers and speculators will certainly find it more difficult in the future when they try to replace them with commercial building projects. And if we look back at the last 10 years when about 100 clubs have closed (and quite a few are today under serious threat) we’ll understand this is a big step to preserve the Berlin club scene. Obviously, with Vaccination moving forward and the end of restrictions getting closer and closer, this may also mean that clubs will be in a better position to negotiate new conditions regarding the so desired reopening of the nightlife.
Great news for Berlin and its citizens, and great news for a business that only in 2019 contributed to the Berlin economy with more than € 1.5 billion and brought to Berlin an estimated amount of 3 million tourists according to the Clubcommission research studies. In short, a historical milestone, as historical as the queues of the clubs will be the day they reopen.
