n.b.k. Cooperations
n.b.k.’s activities are underpinned by long-term cooperations with the publishing house Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Universität der Künste, a residency program at Gartenstadt Atlantic, and the European network eipcp. In dialogue with these partners, n.b.k.’s activities are further developed and anchored in joint projects. The goal of the cooperations is to reach a broad public with information about contemporary art and theory.
Walther König
Walther König is a bookstore and publishing house with stores in all major German cities. The bookstores and the distribution center make books on modern and contemporary art, photography, architecture, and art theory available worldwide. König is particularly known for its large selection of artist books, exhibition catalogues, and monographs. All of n.b.k.’s publications appear in cooperation with Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König. The book series “n.b.k. Ausstellungen” presents artists and their works. “n.b.k. Diskurs” presents current approaches in theory and practice of art, as well as in outreach and teaching. The series “n.b.k. Berlin” gives insights into the Berlin art scene—the authors write about the Berlin mythos, voicing their opinion.
Universität der Künste Berlin
For more than 300 years now, UdK Berlin (University of the Arts) has been training artists. The degree courses in fine arts, design, music, and performing arts are interdisciplinary and project oriented. Joint artistic research projects on topics about art and society are planned. n.b.k. and UdK are institutional partners for art pedagogy/outreach and art production. Various events—seminars, workshops, screenings—take place at n.b.k., offering a platform for the young arts scene in Berlin. This form of training, with direct practical implications, offers the opportunity to gain professional experience as well as the appropriation of institutional spaces.
Gartenstadt Atlantic (Garden City)
Gartenstadt Atlantic, restored according to the original plans by the architect Rudolf Fränkel, is located near Gesundbrunnen in Berlin-Wedding. The idea of the garden development can be traced back to the Englishman Ebenezer Howard, who associated with it not just a life close to nature. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he linked utopian social ideas with the reform movement. The unity of living and working, culture and education was at the core of this project. Today, Gartenstadt Atlantic is an urban island in the middle of Berlin. Since reopening in 2005, together with the Lichtburg–Forum, it grew into a center of cultural life. In addition to fellows of the German PEN-Center, n.b.k.’s guest stay in a specially designed studio–apartment, where they can pursue new or ongoing projects. n.b.k. invites artists, cultural producers, filmmakers, and theorists to participate in the program.