With concert halls shuttered and theater lights darkened, August is a time when many of Berlin’s creative institutions take a well-earned holiday. But you can still get your fill of culture – and then some – thanks to the Kultursommerfestival, the outdoor arts program that runs all summer until 03.09.2023. Here are our picks of the best of the rest of the line-up, starting at the gardens of Schloss Schönhausen in Pankow. On 24.08 you can see a very special performance by the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, a 74-strong music group made up of expatriate and refugee musicians from Ukraine. Joined by 40 singers from Ukrainian Freedom Chorus, they’ll play a two-hour concert of Verdi, Stankovych, Skoryk and Beethoven in this baroque setting (starts 19h30). Fast forward to September and the closing event of the Kultursommerfestival: a one-day celebration at the Kulturforum cultural district that includes workshops, live music and performances (03.09).
The event sees nature and art blend at the sculpture garden of the Neue Nationalgalerie, where you can take a guided tourof works by the likes of sculptor René Sintenis and Cold War-era artist Wolfgang Mattheuer. Meanwhile, you can get creative yourself at the Cityscapes workshop by painting a landscape of Berlin inspired by the old masters (children welcome too). The decorative arts take center stage over at the Kunstgewerbemuseum, which will be hosting an installation by Italian artist Esther Stocker, plus live music from iconic German band 2raumwohnung and others (11–20h). Finally, round off the day with a drink and a crêpe on Matthäikirchplatz for the perfect end to another culture-filled summer…
Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Fabian Brennecke, Alexander Rentsch & Lale Yürür / Credit: Kulturprojekte
Kultursommerfestival runs until 03.09.2023 – see the program in full online. All events are free of charge.
@kultursommerfestival.berlin
