Hotel Continental - Art Space in Exile

The project "HOTEL CONTINENTAL - Art Space in Exile" is an answer to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine by giving numerous refugees in Berlin access to education and work and opening them up a space in our society.
For a period of at least five months (June - October 2022), "HOTEL CONTINENTAL - Art Space in Exile" will be a interim user of a former piano factory in Berlin and host Ukrainian cultural workers in Berlin. The "Art Space in Exile" is a cultural production site and social space that is open to all newly arrived Berliners and those who have been living here for a long time and connects them with each other. The "HOTEL" offers a roof for a diverse "hotel-society" that becomes a lively part of Berlin's urban culture throughout the summer.
The name “Hotel Continental” refers to the “Center of Contemporary Art – Hotel Continental” in Mariupol, which was destroyed on March 24th.

The "HOTEL CONTINENTAL - Art Space in Exile" connects Ukrainians and Berliners and offers the opportunity to communicate with each other in different ways.

1. Work and maintenance for Ukrainian cultural workers
The “Hotel” offers refugee artists workspaces and a temporary platform to produce, network, educate themselves and present their work to the public. The “hotel” becomes an “employer” through grants for refugees.

2. Mission of culture: making visible and bringing it up for discussion
Although survival and the end of the war are top priorities for most Ukrainians, culture plays a paramount role in this war, because in the face of horror only art can succeed in addressing, processing and ultimately making bearable for which words are missing.

3. Culture for all
The "Continental" is not only a platform for professional cultural workers, but wants to offer culture for everyone: courses, workshops and educational projects for refugee children and women should give them the opportunity to express themselves artistically.

4. Initiating international cooperation
The "Hotel" will not house a closed "art" society exclusively from one nation, but to encourage international and interdisciplinary cooperation, new formats and artistic experiments and thus also enrich the Berlin cultural scene.

5. Contribution to cultural diplomacy in Europe
The goal of all efforts of the project is to make a contribution to cultural diplomacy for peace and dialogue in Europe with civil means.

Supporting of our "hotel" is attractive for all those who are looking for a way to not only provide Ukrainians with the bare essentials, but also to offer them a longer-term perspective and connection. For those who are curious to get to know the culture of our new neighbors better. For those who would like to help directly, concretely and clearly - because we ctreate a new cultural venue in Berlin that is open to everyone. For those who believe that something new and good can emerge from a catastrophe.

By reaching the first funding target of 12,000 euros, we can set up the empty rooms of the future "Hotel Continental" with everything that is necessary for cultural hotel operations, i.e. above all furniture and event technology. If we reach the second funding goal of 25,000 euros, we can offer grants for resident artists and pay for art materials and tools. In this way, the hotel not only becomes a room provider, but also an employer.