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Hamburg project turns vacant properties into artists’ studios and galleries
Hamburg reported a positive interim balance of its project aimed at providing vacant retail spaces to artists. The city, headed by First Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher, launched the project in 2021 to help artists and property owners.
The scheme was co-developed by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture and Media, and Landesbetrieb Immobilienmanagement und Grundvermögen (LIG) real estate company. Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, the municipal body for promotion of creative economy, served as the agent for unused spaces, helping more than 50 studios, art and design galleries and pop-up stores to open temporarily.
Carsten Brosda, head of the Hamburg Authority for Culture and Media, stressed that “everyone benefits from creative interim use… the property sector avoids vacancy costs and the city is revived.” He added that the scheme helps creative people to present their work and expressed hope that the example will encourage creative people and real estate companies to develop long-term partnerships.
Hamburg allocated EUR 9 million for the scheme, making the funds available until late 2022. Partly due to the effects of the coronavirus crisis, Hamburg saw a large number of retail vacancies in the centre of the city, with authorities noting that empty stores help no one.
Vacant spaces are available to creative people through the scheme for EUR 1.5 per square metre per month, while the city reimburses owners for insurance and ancillary and operating costs.
(Photo credit: Jan-Marius Komorek / Frei Fläche)
