Neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst

The neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst (nGbK), founded in 1969, is a grassroots democratic art association in Berlin, distinguished by its innovative and participatory structure.

• Exhibition and Event Program: The nGbK realizes between six and eleven exhibitions annually, as well as over 100 events, developed and implemented by members in interdisciplinary project groups[1][2][4].
• Art Education and Publications: The association promotes the mediation of artistic practices and has regularly published publications on the projects and exhibitions carried out since 1987[1][2][4].
• International and Regional Collaborations: The nGbK works closely with foundations, universities, and other cultural institutions, both nationally and internationally, to realize successful collaborations and exhibition projects[1][3].

The nGbK is committed to addressing social power relations and relevant socio-political issues through art. The association understands art as a form of action that reacts back on social processes. The grassroots democratic structure allows members to directly participate in the content direction of the program, promoting broad participation and diversity of perspectives[1][2][4].

• Sustainable Architecture: The move to the new location at Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 11/13 in Berlin-Mitte in August 2023 was carried out with sustainability in mind. The architects Hütten and Paläste developed a reconfigurable space layout focused on transparency, variability, and sustainability. Existing structures of the building from the 1970s were minimally altered[3].
• Ecological and Social Responsibility: The nGbK also advocates for ecological and social responsibility through specific art projects, such as the two-part facade work by Folke Köbberling made from recycled materials. This work also provides a nesting place for birds[3].
• Community and Urban Initiatives: The association is active in urban discourses and interventions in public space, particularly in the neighborhood of Alexanderplatz and in other districts like Hellersdorf, where local communities and artists collaborate[3].

The nGbK is institutionally supported by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion of the State of Berlin. This enables the association to maintain and further develop its extensive programs and projects[2][4].

The neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst is thus a central place for contemporary art and exhibition production in Berlin, standing out for its grassroots democratic structure, innovative projects, and commitment to social and ecological issues.

• 1 - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Gesellschaft_f%C3%BCr_Bildende_Kunst
• 2 - https://ngbk.de/de/institution/neue-gesellschaft-fuer-bildende-kunst
• 3 - https://monoskop.org/NGbK
• 4 - https://ngbk.de/en/institution/neue-gesellschaft-fuer-bildende-kunst
• 5 - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexanderplatz