Berlin Galleries

Berlin has an extremely well-funded art scene, with many first-rate galleries. The work is as diverse as Berlin’s cultural landscape and includes everything from early Christian antiques in Charlottenburg to conceptual installations in Mitte. A few good pamphlets, all with maps and available just about anywhere in the city, are: ARTery Berlin (€2.50), with complete show listings in English and German; Berliner Kunst Kalender (€2); and Berliner Galerien (free). The normal city guide, Zitty, also lists the major openings.

The center of Berlin’s gallery world is Mitte, which has more contemporary work than classics; the Berlin Mitte pamphlet provides listings and a map. Five times a year, Mitte offers a Galerienrundgang tour of the galleries (dates are listed in the pamphlets). On nearby Sophienstaße, Gipsstraße, Auguststraße, and Linienstraße, galleries pack the streets and Hinterhöfe (courtyards hidden behind building facades). Charlottenburg also has a large selection of galleries, many of which are more upscale. Kreuzberg hosts a handful of galleries, many with a political focus, and there’s a new, small scene in Prenzlauer Berg off Danziger Straße. Be sure to pick up some free wine at many of the openings.

The galleries below are some of the more prominent ones; all are located in Mitte.

Akademie Der Kunst. This 300-year-old institution has been the core of Berlin’s art community for years, with students and artists working in every medium from film to painting to music and more. The Akademie sponsors a variety of prizes and hosts exhibitions in its Hanseatenweg location. A futuristic branch, at Pariser Platz 4, houses the Akademie archives and five additional exhibition halls. (Hanseatenweg 10. S3, S5, S7, S9, or S75 to Bellevue, or U9 to Hansaplatz. ☎030 390 760; www.adk.de. Open Tu-Su 11am-8pm. Exhibitions range from free to €12, students €10. Last Su of the month free.)

Neuer Berliner Kunstverein. Besides hosting a gallery space, Berlin’s most democratic art organization sponsors the weekly “Treffpunkt NBK,” a series of lectures, discussions with artists, performances, and more. It also lends reproductions of masterpieces to Berlin residents for €0.50 per month through the Artothek and has thousands of videos available to the public via the Video-Forum. (Chausseestr. 128-129. ☎030 280 7020; www.nbk.org. Artothek ☎0881 927 0400. Gallery open Tu-F noon-6pm, Sa-Su 2-6pm. Video-Forum www.nbk.org. Open Tu and Th 2-6pm, W and F noon-5pm.)

Art Center Berlin. The impressive waterfall wall marks the complex for the Art Center Berlin, a forum for contemporary art. The multi-level glass-heavy space showcases international galleries and collections in a central exhibition location. Recent exhibitions have included master sculptors of Zimbabwe, aboriginal painting from Australia, and conceptual art from Korea. (Friedrichstr. 134. ☎030 27 87 90 27; www.art-center-berlin.de. Open daily 11am-9pm. Guided tours by request. €5, students €3.50.)