PETITION: Save the Watt cultural pub initiative
PRESS RELEASEWatt cultural pub threatened with closure +++ Save Watt initiativefounded+++Petition launched On 16 December 2024, the owners of the
PRESS RELEASE
Watt cultural pub threatened with closure +++ Save Watt initiative
founded+++Petition launched
On 16 December 2024, the owners of the building, Dr Anne Ameri-Siemens and Mr
Many Ameri informed Sindy Kliche, the operator of the cultural pub Watt,
that an extension of their tenancy in the street pub, which expires on 30 September 2025
expiring on 30 September 2025 at Straßburger Straße 22/Metzer Straße 9 in 10405 Berlin is out of the question.
After ten years, this de facto cancellation not only ends the work of a centrally located
centrally located institution and neighbourhood pub. The owners, who have made the promotion of
art and culture, are ultimately drawing a line under the unruly art and cultural
the unruly history of art and culture in the former working-class district of Prenzlauer Berg, which
Prenzlauer Berg, which was a hub and centre of non-conformity for decades.
In the mudflats, people from different professions and vocations, generations
and backgrounds meet face to face. Thinkers and doers, artists and managers
talk and discuss with each other. Beyond the barrier of high admission prices, they listen to
concerts by renowned jazz musicians such as Conny Bauer and Matthias Bauer, the young musicians
musicians Anna Kaluza and Catherine Lorent or the singing actors Meret Becker and Alexander Scheer.
Becker and Alexander Scheer. They attend readings by writers such as Ann Cotten,
Volker Braun, Henryk Gericke and Florian Günther. They found and produce their own literary
literary magazines themselves, initiate exhibitions, celebrate theatre premieres or simply celebrate
birthdays.
Until 2010, the Watt’s rooms housed the Bar Diller, named after the painter and graphic artist
graphic artist Michael Diller, a formative figure for the Prenzlauer Berg art scene with an impact
with an influence that extended beyond the district’s borders. In 2010, the writer Bert
Papenfuß and the artist Mareile Fellien opened the Rumbalotte continua, the
predecessor institution of the Watt. The Rumbalotte has drawn on a wealth of experience to provide
of experience. One of the many examples is the theatre programme
author and presenter Marion Brasch and the Akademie der Künste (Academy of Arts).
for the writer and film-maker Thomas Brasch.
Against this background, we, friends and guests of the Watt and organisers and performers ourselves, have launched the
organisers and performers, have founded the*Save the Watt cultural pub! *initiative. To emphasise our demand
to emphasise our demand and make it public, we have started a petition at the following address
petition at the following address:
https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/kulturkneipe-von-schliessung-bedroht-rettet-das-watt
Watt, incidentally a solvent and reliable employer, is unique; its situation, however, is exemplary.
situation, however, is exemplary. In a district that has fascinated and inspired feature pages and city
and city magazines for decades, we will not allow ourselves to be deprived of a much-loved cultural space
and place of recreation. We will make ourselves heard. Over the next few
months we will continue to work on a varied programme and invite you to join us.
The WATT is committed to its own needs. The alliance against displacement
and rent madness Berlin shows solidarity with WATT and all people and places threatened by social cuts,
and all people and places threatened by social cuts, cultural cuts and the demise of pubs.
Ownership does not absolve!
For queries and contact, please contact us at info@initiative-watt-retten.de or
015734439733. The telephone number is not intended for publication.