The idea is a simple one. On the one hand, theaters and concert houses often have unsold tickets on performance night. On the other, those tickets represent the answer to a great need felt by Berliners on social welfare or in dire economic straits. Brief excursions into the city's cultural life can help lift them out of their isolation, stimulate their imagination and renew faith in themselves.
The Berlin Pass
Berlin is already very open to the idea of making culture available to all. The Berlin Pass, issued by the Senate, allows social welfare recipients to purchase available tickets for no more than three Euros -- a fantastic opportunity afforded to the weakest economic groups.
Tickets, please
But Kulturloge betters this deal because their members (or "guests") are assured of anonymity when they claim tickets at the box office. Once on the list of Kulturloge members, they receive a telephone call by volunteers when tickets for their preferred cultural events become available. If they confirm that they will attend, Kulturloge arranges everything else. While a Berlin Pass marks the owner as a "charity case," Kulturloge guests can maintain their dignity by simply picking up their reserved ticket at the box office. The others waiting in line -- even the salespersons -- have no clue they are "different."
Everybody Wins
The Grips Theater, Admiralspalast, Literaturhaus Berlin and the current exhibition at the Schloss Charlottenburg are among the 15 cultural partners who have already pledged support as partners. Meyenburg's team is optimistic that the next partner acquisitions will include the Berliner Ensemble, Friedrichstadtpalast and the Deutsche Oper.
Everybody wins, says Meyenburg: the cultural establishments, which run to full houses and win audiences from a broad cross-section of the population; the guests, who regain a sense of dignity and perspective by focusing on creativity rather than on mere survival; the city of Berlin; and, of course, the Kulturloge concept -- which shows every indication of being rapidly replicated in other cities.
Gallery Weekend
As I write, Berlin's Gallery Weekend is on: a three-day art marathon, with 40 galleries and 40 openings between Friday, April 30 and Sunday, May 2. At least 700 art collectors from around the world are expected, and participating galleries -- some featuring the work of art celebs such as Damien Hirst and Elizabeth Peyton -- pay eye-popping fees of several thousand Euros.
But the Kulturloge, for me, is the bigger story. Because Berlin is not just another world cultural city -- it is the Kulturstadt with a heart.
"Loge" means a box at a theater. The first Kulturloge initiative started last year in Marburg and has got off to a flying start. Hamburg is slated to follow next. More information is at www.kulturloge-berlin.de
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