A group representing Berlin’s clubs put its campaign to protect the city’s nightlife from gentrification to parliament yesterday (February 12).
One aspect of the group’s campaign is to push for clubs to be given the same cultural status in the city as opera houses and theatres. It’s hoped that this will give the city’s music venues added protection from the effects of gentrification.
As The Guardian reports, around 100 clubs have closed in Berlin in the past 10 years, while 25 more are currently under threat of closure. Earlier this month, one of the city’s best-loved clubs, Griessmühle was forced to close after the property owners sought to sell up and develop the land.
The group running the campaign, ClubCommission, is a collective of club owners and supporters. They’ve carried out a number of studies to show the government and local council just how important the nighttime industry is to the city.
An estimated 3 million tourists visit Berlin every year to go its clubs, according to ClubCommission’s data, while clubs contributed €1.5 billion to the local economy in 2019 alone. Their argument was put to the Bundestag commission.
"The difference between opera and club is the style of music," said Pamela Schobess, who is the chair of ClubCommission, yesterday.
The Bundestag commission has not yet made a ruling on the matter.
