Archiving Werkstatt der Kulturen: (Post)Migrant Histories in Berlin Arts

The Werkstatt der Kulturen (WdK) in Berlin operated from 1993 to 2019 as the city’s only state-funded institution dedicated to showcasing art and culture by migrant communities and communities of colour. It offered a platform for artistic experimentation in genres and forms that had been largely excluded from other state-supported cultural spaces. This was achieved through diverse formats such as festivals, workshops, and transnational collaborations. After its closure by the Berlin Senate, the WdK left behind approximately 200 boxes of archival material. These include video, audio, photographic, and textual records that document nearly three decades of work. The archive reflects the contributions of thousands of actors, including organisations, artists, curators, activists, and researchers who engaged with the institution. This course will examine the materials left behind by the WdK. Using a decolonial lens, participants will construct a preliminary inventory (Findbuch), identify key themes for archiving the collection, and develop concepts for its future use. Follow the link for more on the archive and WdK:https://taz.de/Archiv-der-Werkstatt-der-Kulturen/!6054710/ (Course languages: English and German)