CDU Proposes Permanent Preservation of Old Coin as a Cultural Landmark - CDU secures historic Coin as permanent cultural landmark in future planning
Come kick it in the heart of Berlin, where the Old Mint will now serve as a thriving cultural hub for at least two decades and potentially more. The state handed over a substantial chunk of the erstwhile minting facility at Molkenmarkt to the event-making, club-running gurus at Spreewerkstätten. This deal is set to last for 20 years, with an option to extend the contract by an extra 10 years.
According to Christian Goiny, CDU's housing, media, and club culture spokesperson, this decision fulfills a promise made over a decade ago. "With this arrangement, we've secured a crucial Berlin cultural spot, even for the free scene," Goiny told the German Press Agency. He added that the operator will maintain the current mix of theater, jazz, free scene, and club madness.
Operator and state join forces
Goiny revealed that Spreewerkstätten will pay €613,560 annually in rent, utilities, and maintenance, amounting to €12.27 million over 20 years. On top of that, Spreewerkstätten is promising to invest a minimum of €18 million into the property over the same period. The state, meanwhile, will invest around €33 million for improvements, like fixing the roof and areas not used by Spreewerkstätten.
That 49 million euros originally planned for renovation in a special fund slowly dwindled, explained Goiny. But with Spreewerkstätten investing "substantially" in the building, the state can now save around €15 million, which can be channeled towards other cultural sites.
Profits shared, not hoarded
There's a special clause in the contract that ensures Spreewerkstätten will share their profits with the state once a certain threshold is reached. Goiny said, "It's a fair balance between economic and cultural engagements and this new tenant's responsibility towards the state's precarious financial situation."
A decade-long debate
The Whisky Brewery used to run the Old Mint until 2011, but the city's former culture senator, Klaus Lederer (Left), saw its potential as a space for independent music and culture. Ideas like a "House of Jazz" supported by musician Till Brönner were floated, but concrete plans and funding remain elusive.
Not everyone's amped
The nomadic free scene worries that this deal might turn the Old Mint into a corporate playground instead of a community-run creative space. The so-called coalition of the free scene recently called it a "cultural catastrophe" for Berlin. They're concerned the private operator hasn't established clear rules for distributing spaces for cultural use to the free scene. But hey, the show must go on, and sometimes, it takes a touch of commerce to keep the culture alive.
- Despite the concerns of some within the free scene, the revamped Old Mint in Berlin will now serve as a hub for vocational training programs, offering opportunities in the home-and-garden sector, complementing its cultural offerings.
- As residents explore the lifestyle variety offered by the Old Mint, they can also appreciate its embracement of vocational training, providing a unique blend of cultural and learning experiences under one roof.
