Our stock of costumes for the independent performing arts had no role model in the founding phase and has been a successful pilot project since 2012. Its awareness and use has grown steadily over the past 12 years. As the collected costumes come from former, often publicly funded projects, we contribute to sustainable handling of public funds and offer a professional working infrastructure that did not exist before.
Our initiative has become a role model for other initiatives. The founder and stock of costumes administrator Muriel Nestler provides advice on the development of the expansion of the stock of costumes for the independent scene in Vienna at ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH and for the stock of costumes treibstoff in Munich. The association’s involvement in the Network for Material Initiatives, a roof-wide organization, also contributes to a sustainable working infrastructure for art and cultural projects. Berlin thus serves as an example of working infrastructure for freelanc artists of the performing arts and for the sustainable use of public funding beyond the state’s borders.
Built up with grants from the LOTTO Foundation Berlin and private loans, the stock of costumes was secured in 2018 after 6 years of very precarious voluntary conditions thanks to a grant from the Berlin state budget. Now we are threatened with the loss of this grant. As the constant professional maintenance of this structure cannot be covered by rental fees alone and voluntary assignments are not enough, we may have to close. The Berlin stock of costumes for the independent performing arts could thus be an example of how Berlin’s cultural policy, with short-term savings of small sums, is causing long-term setbacks in sustainability and independent artistic and cultural production, a negative example that is being observed internationally and nationwide.

The bbk berlin and the network of independent Berlin project spaces and initiatives are calling on all art and culture professionals, employees in the cultural sector and actors in the art operating system to demonstrate against the drastic cuts to Berlin’s culture budget.
Please come dressed in black as a symbol of mourning for art and culture, which are massively threatened by the planned cuts, and bring props such as funeral wreaths made from leftover materials from artistic work, mourning ribbons or other “grave goods”.
When: Friday, November 29, 2024 | 3 – 6 p.m.
Where: Meeting point at Neptunbrunnen opposite the Rote Rathaus at 3 p.m. with destination Brandenburg Gate
Further information: bbk berlin

As part of the budget consolidation, Berlin’s cultural budget is being asked to make massive savings. As a result, project funding is primarily at risk, as it is only temporary and the Senate has no obligations.

As a result, our Stock of Costume funding for 2025 has also been stopped for the time being. The Senate Administration is trying to push our project into another funding group in order to secure us. We may know at the beginning of December whether we will be able to pay our rent from January or whether our 14 years of work for the collection of costumes by and for independent performing arts productions will soon come to an end.

What is certain is that many independent productions will no longer be funded in the coming years, just like the professional performing arts productions for which we provide the costumes and working infrastructure.

We would therefore be delighted if you would also support this cause. The more people who take part, the greater the likelihood that it will be successful.

What you can do:

Sign and spread the petition: „Berliner Kultur in der Haushaltskrise schützen“ (“Protecting Berlin’s culture in the budget crisis”)

Demonstrate against the cultural cuts: On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, a demonstration will take place on Platz des 18. März in front of the Brandenburg Gate from 10 am.
The alliance is being called by all cultural associations such as LAFT, the Coalition of the Independent Scene Berlin, the Stage Association Bühnenverein, GDBA, the Scenography Association Stenografie-Bund, independent production venues and all Berlin cultural institutions.
More on this and newsletters for current information: #BerlinIstKultur
Facebook: Berlin is culture
Instagram: #BerlinIstKultur

Participate & join in: We from Kostümkollektiv are preparing artistic objects/texts and will meet on Tuesday, November 12 at 4 pm at Stock of Costumes, our Headquarter at Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin. Feel free to bring special costumes or objects to the demonstration. You can take up our ideas and prepare something of your own at home; we’ll keep you up to date on Tuesday afternoon on Instagram: #kostuemkollektiv

With Silvia Albarella (set and costume designer, Kostümkollektiv e.V.)
What are the special characteristics of working within the independent performing arts community for stage and costume designers? In this workshop, artists (scenographers, artistic directors and performers) will receive information that will make it easier to begin working in and move through the professional field as well as help for the calculation of a scenography budget.
In German spoken language, it is possible to ask questions and make comments using English spoken language.
This workshop takes place within the framework of the Information Center of the Berlin Performing Arts Program and, after an introduction to the basics of the topic, is dedicated to the specific questions of those present. For better preparation, we ask you to send specific questions and/or project plans (concept, sketches for stage and costume design) in advance when registering.
When: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 5 – 8 p.m.
Where: Stock of costumes at Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin
Registration until October 8, 2024: beratung@pap-berlin.de

A two-day introduction to the world of theater and film costume design led by stage and costume designer Silvia Albarella for anyone who works with costumes and would like to gain insight into this profession.
The various aspects of costume design will be analyzed by using different costume designs and styles as examples, and illustrated by means of slide shows and the examination of concrete costumes. With the help of warm-ups and playful work with colors and fabrics, participants will be guided to create a costume image. Other costume design practices, such as mask making, dyeing and patination will be taught. Figurines can also be designed with the help of collages. Finally, the result will be documented with photos.
When: Saturday, November 16 + Sunday, November 17, 2024 | 12 p.m – 7 p.m.
Where: Stock of costumes at Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin
Course number: FK2.879
Fee: 55 Euro / reduced 29 Euro
Information on course registration: www.vhs-fk.de, vhs@ba-fk.berlin.de