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

Anyone who makes art wants something, and in this city, people want a lot. Where this drive comes from, where ideas intersect, how densely they can be layered, and who has the courage to speak about it, this is what informed CC’s calendar picks. First up is Crossroads on Thursday (20.11.) at Hamburger Bahnhof. The conversation series brings together Lena Gorelik and Norbert Bisky. The evening will be moderated by Mathilda Legemah and Janika Gelinek, admission is free, and the canvas colorful. Meanwhile, in Kreuzberg (20.11.), the studio of Marten Herma Anderson opens for the soft launch of Illuminated. There, Anderson’s sculptural lamps transform it into an immersive artwork. Childhood memories are hidden here and there. An evening for illumination, reflection, and snacking! Next, Open House in Prenzlauer Berg temporarily transforms into a textile art bazaar. It’s A Shirt, the label by Christina Christodoulou and her father Kostantinos, brings handcrafted, timeless shirts from Athens to Berlin. The pop-up starts on Friday (21.11.) with Greek mezze, cocktails, and music. On Saturday and Sunday (22.–23.11.), browse limited pieces over coffee and small bites. This one is all about the art of dressing well!

Speaking of which, anyone wanting to master layering should stop by GlogauAir. On Friday (21.11.), Tending Layers opens, where twelve Viet-German artists uncover layers of memory and origin. On view until Monday (24.11.). From there, it’s on to Kleiststraße. Cravings is the exhibition in which seven artists, including Charlotte Adam, Fabienne Meyer, Sophia Agnella Anita Stolz, Jovana Reisinger, Isis Maria Niedecken, Chelsea Turowsky und Lilo Klinkenberg, explore longing and pleasure. Painting, literature, food art, and floral works deepen into a sensuous dialogue. Visitors on Saturday (22.11.) or Sunday (23.11.) can take a piece of this desire with them. On Sunday, there will also be a reading by Jovana Reisinger. Anyone who prefers to hold art in their hands will find inspiration on Sunday (23.11.) at the Ceramics Winter Market at Peace Out Paradise, 25 Berlin ceramicists present objects you’ll want to look at and absolutely touch. Perfect for small gifts (remember, Christmas is only four weeks away!). On Tuesday (25.11.), Panke Gallery once again becomes a resonance chamber. Sound Night 16 blends noise, indie folk, and experimental sets into an exhibition of sound. Entry is determined by dice. Those who come don’t just listen to music, they walk through it and let themselves drift into the night. At Backhaus Projects, The Silenced Project seeks to make itself heard. On Wednesday (26.11.), the exhibition Silenced Words gathers accounts from women* who have experienced sexualized or psychological violence in the media industry. With Chain Mail, a quiet chain of solidarity emerges: read an anonymous story, add your own, and pass it on. A place that proves listening can be an artistic act, and sharing helps, if you choose it.

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Marten Herma Anderson, Kulturprojekte, Alexander Rentsch, Savannah van der Niet, Open House, It’s A Shirt, Lê Quyên Nguyễn, Vinh Tony Do / Credit: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Hamburger Bahnhof, Invalidenstr.50–51, 10557 Berlin–Mitte; map
Crossroads 20.11.2025 18h.

@hamburger_bahnhof
@lena_gorelik_
@norbertbisky
@literaturhausberlin23

Marten Herma Anderson, Dresdener Str.25, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Illuminated 20.11.2025 18–21h.

@mrtn.ndrsn

Open House, Christburger Str.13, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
It’s A Shirt Pop-up Opening 21.11.2025 17h. Coffee & shirts 22.–23.11.2025 9–17h.

@itsashirt
@openhouse.berlin

GlogauAir, Glogauer Str.16, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Tending Layers 21.11.–24.11.2025.

@tendinglayers
@glogauair

Kleiststr.35, 10787 Berlin–Schöneberg; map
Cravings 22.–23.11.2025 10–18h.

@bbbingss
@lottiadam
@chelseaturowsky_
@studiolilo_
@jovana.reisinger
@isismarianiedecken
@stolzes

Peace Out Paradise, 2. Hinterhof, Dieffenbachstr.35, 10967 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Ceramics Winter Market 23.11.2025 11–17h.

@peaceoutparadise

Panke Gallery, Gerichtstr.23, Hof 5, Berlin–Wedding; map
Sound Night 16 25.11.2025 20h.

@panke.gallery

Backhaus Projects, Weserstr.168, 12045 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Silenced Words 26.11.2025 17–22h.

@studioelevenfourty