December is here. Don’t worry, we’re starting small with tea ceremonies, charming gift ideas, conversations in train stations, and bingo for a good cause. The week begins at Gropius Bau. On Thursday (04.12.), Spätschicht invites you to join Leila Hekmat for performances, installations, screenings, and a discussion. For this edition, Hekmat brings together artists such as Arthur Chruszcz, Monique Fei, and others. Later, Hussein Chalayan’sAnaesthetics will be shown, a work that examines invisible structures of violence in eleven chapters. A conversation with art critic Kimberly Bradley will follow. And because Spätschicht is always something of a community ritual, admission is free. The following evening, in the heart of Mitte, the BPA exhibition A place never fully held opens (05.12.) simultaneously at KW and Kunst Raum Mitte. Ten artists from the Berlin Program for Artists, including Umut Azad Akkel and Monilola Olayemi Ilupeju, will show works from their second program year. The afterparty takes place at Café Bravo. A trip to Neukölln is also worthwhile. The Stube Gift Shop (05.–07.12.) offers gift ideas for young and old — fashion, kidswear, jewelry, art, vintage pieces, and ceramics curated by Stube, R.T.CO, Wallenstein, and many others.
On Saturday (06.12.), we head to Kreuzberg where A Festive Pop-up by Mela Souvenirs invites you to Atelier Sud, featuring artistic Italo kitsch by Johanna Walderdorff, booklets, and vintage tableware, plus sweets and drinks. If you’re strolling through Tiergarten, stop in for a bit of fun: Better Together Bingo & Tombola at Café Tiergarten hosts three rounds of bingo, small prizes, and special guests on Saturday (06.12.). Buying a ticket also means donating to the Berlin Initiative Against Violence Against Women, Polylux, or Off Road Kids. At the same time, artist Monica Bonvicini will speak about her work, her path, and her current projects in the action room at Hamburger Bahnhof, as part of the In Conversation series with director Till Fellrath. Admission is free and the talk will be in English. Meanwhile, the first of two quiet evenings begins on Friedelstraße. Hap Ceramics’ open studio welcomes visitors for ceramics and candlelight this weekend (06.–07.12.). If you’re looking for a peaceful hideaway during the hectic pre-Christmas season, Hap is the place to be. Backhaus Projects is celebrating a small reunion until Sunday (07.12.): the Vintage Pop-up Holiday Editionbrings together Ophelia Vintage and Thee Cultivator, along with guests such as Gemmed by Olive and Studio Joanne. Think vintage, jewelry, home goods, and trinkets. To close out the weekend, make one last stop at Remi. On Sunday (07.12.), Studio Remi will serve its first high tea. In the afternoon, scones, tarts, sandwiches, and small cakes will be served in a fixed sequence. Tea, coffee, and optional glasses of bubbly will be available. Here’s to the little things!
Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Atelier Walderdorff, Barnekammer, Darina Belonogova, Julia S. Riedel, Maxi Hoffmann, Mela Souvenirs, Tom Wagner
Gropius Bau, Niederkirchnerstr.7, 10963 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Spätschicht x Leila 04.12.2025 19–22h. Anaesthetics 19h30–20h30.
@gropiusbau
@leilaleilaalielaliel
KW, Auguststr.69, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
A place never fully held 06.12.2025–11.01.2026. Opening 05.12.2025 19–22h.
@kwinstitutefcontemporaryart
@kunstraummitte
@berlinprogramforartists
Sanderstr.6, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map
The Gift Shop 05.–07.12.2025 12–17h.
@stube.store
Atelier Sud, Gneisenaustr.57, 10961 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
A Festive Pop-up 06.12.2025 10–20h.
@mela.souvenirs
@atelier_walderdorff
@_atelier.sud_
Café Tiergarten, Altonaer Str.3, 10557 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Better Together 06.12.2025 16–21h.
@bettertogether.charity
Hamburger Bahnhof, Invalidenstr.50–51, 10557 Berlin–Mitte; map
In Conversation 06.12.2025 15h.
@hamburger_bahnhof
@studiomonicabonvicini
Friedelstr.40, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Hap Ceramics Open Studio 06.–07.12.2025 16–20h.
@hapceramics
Backhaus Projects, Weserstr.168, 12045 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Vintage Pop-up 01.–07.12.2025 12–19h.
@backhouse_projects
@opheliavintage.berlin
@theecultivator
Remi, Torstr.48, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map
High Tea Event 07.12.2025 from 15h.
@studio___remi
@restaurant_remi
