After months of negotiations, the longstanding operator of the event hall in the
rockhouse.berlin resigns – 1,000 musicians are threatened with the loss of their ain attraction
Berlin, November 12, 2021 – the longstanding operator of the event hall at rockhouse.berlin, Wolfgang Werfel, is terminating his contract as of January 31, 2022. This is the result of a months-long unsuccessful negotiations about the future use of the for the musicisans very important event hall in the rehearsal house in Lichtenberg.
In January 2021, some tenants of the rockhouse.berlin became aware that the GSEgGmbH is seeking a new lease of the hall, combined with a change of use. From the beginning, the rockhouse.berlin tenants’ council has clearly been opposed to the displacement of the longstanding operator of the event hall.
As an intercultural melting pot, the event hall of the rockhouse.berlin is the main attraction of the rehearsal house. As such, it must continue to be used in a way that is appropriate for the rockhouse.berlin and its tenants. The rockhouse.berlin needs the the in-house possibility to realize public concerts, festivals and private events. In addition, the hall opens up the possibility for a wide variety of cultural events.
Furthermore the rockhouse.berlin is facing extreme rent increases of over 80% in the next few years. The square meter price is expected to rise to over 21 EUR/month. Because of that it is important, that tenants can improve and use the value of their rooms to the maximum.
With that said, the Tenants’ Council has been negotiating for months with GSE gGmbH, the Jugendamt Tempelhof-Schöneberg and the Berliner Kultursenat about a use of the hall by the Drugstore youth project. “The concept presented to us can only
work if the needs of the musicians are also taken into account. This includes, in particular, an uncomplicated possibility to continue to rent and use the hall, at an unchanged level of security in the building. Otherwise, the planned restriction of the infrastructure would not be sustainable against the backdrop of rising rents,” the Tenants’ Council said today in Berlin.
In view of the impending termination, lack of negotiation results and lack of planning security Mr. Werfel has now drawn the consequences and terminated his contract due to the lack of perspective to January 31, 2022.
“We know Mr. Werfel’s difficult situation only too well and understand his decision. At the same time, however, we regret his step, as he has been a friend, supporter and long-time companion for many musicians, supporter and long-time companion,” says the tenants’ council.
The Tenants’ Council expects GSE gGmbH and the politicians to find a suitable successor and that the hall will continue to be available to the tenants of rockhouse.berlin for cultural events.
For your Interest:
The rockhouse.berlin in Lichtenberg, with almost 190 rehearsal rooms, in which around 1,000 musicians and artists rehearse and work, is one of the largest rehearsal and cultural centers in Germany. With its diversity, the rockhouse.berlin is a flagship for the music and cultural scene in Berlin.
The rockhouse.berlin was already on the brink of closure in 2019 and could only be saved through the dedication and and commitment of the tenants and the cultural senate. The rockhouse.berlin was
rented by the Senate of Culture and is managed by GSE gGmbH.
In addition to the rehearsal rooms, the rockhouse.berlin has a hall that is used for music events and also facilitates a kiosk and a musicians’ service (repairs, sale of accessories, etc.). The hall has been completely technically equipped by the current operators private means and can also be booked by the tenants of the rockhouse.berlin for (commercial) musical use and for private events.
The net cold rents in the rockhouse.berlin are to be increased in the next years in the context of a graduated rent by over 80% to over 21,- EUR. The graduated rent will be the end of the rockhouse.berlin for many tenants.
Many, especially young, up-and-coming artists or music teachers, will simply be no longer able to afford this rent. Against this background, it is important that the existing infrastructure of the rehearsal house is maintained and expanded.
Contact:
Tenants’ Council rockhouse.berlin
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