(Translation by DeepL. Have fun with it!)
A CONTINUATION ROMAN
1976 UNTIL 1999 – THE KUNSTVEREIN IN THE HINTERE CRAMERGASSE:
The “Kunstverein Hintere Cramergasse 12 eV” was founded in 1976 by a group of art students who used a carpentry workshop in Hinterer Cramergasse 12 (St. Peter/ Gleishammer district) as a studio and meeting place. Soon the first concerts and celebrations took place at the Kunstverein (KV), whose special flair quickly spread. Since there were still far too few favorable performance possibilities for bands, theatre groups and organizers from the subcultural scene, the Kunstverein established itself as a venue and meeting place.
The building and grounds of the Kunstverein were rented by private companies and since 1986 directly from the city of Nuremberg. In 1990, the city of Nuremberg filed an action for eviction against the Kunstverein, which the association then lost. Since then, the Kunstverein in Hinteren Cramergasse has only been tolerated and has repeatedly received an extension of the eviction date at short notice.
The Kunstverein was to be vacated as early as 1990 with the most diverse and sometimes incomprehensible reasons. (Redevelopment of the grounds, new bleaching, building of social housing, noise pollution, etc.) This could be prevented with a lot of persuasion and also by founding the constituency “Die Guten”.
This party, which was clearly founded around the Kunstverein, its Symapthisant and supporters, has been a constant in the composition of Nuremberg’s city council and political culture since 1996.
The AG Zwischennutz eV, founded by some members of the Kunstverein, managed the halls of the former Landesgewerbeanstalt (LGA) from 1992-1996 and then, in Burgerstraße, the LGB until demolition in 1998. In 1999, the end of the Kunstverein in Hintere Cramergasse came with the “Urban District Rehabilitation St. Peter / Gleishammer”.
1999 UNTIL 2007 – AN ERA BEGINS
After years of to and fro, a solution was finally found for the (almost) homeless Kunstverein at the end of the 90s: An old barracks area in the Südstadt was to be the home of the association.
Building services engineering was not available at the beginning. The rooms were in the “gutted” condition. For example, the heating had to be done with radiant heaters, of course only after the former storeroom had been plastered, tiled etc. It quickly became apparent that the Kunstverein would not be able to use the entire empty barracks for cultural purposes. The AG Zwischennutz did not feel able to do so either.
Therefore, an operator GmbH, the “Z-Bau GmbH”, was formed. The members were recruited mainly from the Kunstverein (+Environment), while Z-Bau GmbH undertook the refurbishment of the remaining building and space rental with financial support from the city.
The three event rooms, the large hall, the red salon and the gallery were rented directly from the GmbH. One room, zoom-club, was sublet to an external operator. The Kunstverein operated its rooms independently and contributed to the cultural diversity of the house. In addition to the many public events, artists’ studios found their place in the Z-Bau.
Unfortunately, over time it became apparent that the ideas of a self-governing cultural enterprise of the Kunstverein with its non-commercial orientation deviated more and more from the concept of Z-Bau GmbH. Inevitably, there was an increasing friction between the GmbH and the Kunstverein, which was now a tenant (but with special status) in the Z-Bau.
2008 TO 2011 – NEW TROUBLE TRAVELS ON
After a decade, it became increasingly obvious that some rooms in the Z-Bau were in urgent need of renovation. This was especially true for the larger event rooms. The Nuremberg City Council had admitted to renovating the building in 2005 and thus to a permanent use, but there had been little concrete action. So one room after the other had to close or could no longer be used as originally intended. The first thing to hit the big hall was the big hall, where concerts were no longer allowed to take place, as the maximum number of spectators was very limited.
In this situation, Z-Bau GmbH came up with three proposals for the future of the building: Two of them looked to exclude the Kunstverein from the Z-Bau. The only proposal that provided for a stay was that the Kunstverein should be operated completely independently (own entrance, spatial separation, ancillary costs, safety and fire protection concept, etc.).
Since the Kunstverein was of the opinion (which was later confirmed) that a separation in the city council would never meet with approval, this attempt by the GmbH was interpreted as a direct attack on the existence of the Kunstverein and countermeasures were started to be organized.
Among other things, the numerous solid concerts, the supporters list with over 2000 entries and of course a demonstration with about. 2000 participants must be named. All of this has now increased the attention of the city of Nuremberg enormously.
The city council appointed a mediator, who was supposed to reconcile the operators GmbH and the Kunstverein and to negotiate conditions for a further operation.
The mediation process, however, was completed after approx. 6 months of negotiation time and, under pressure from the GmbH, the solution “complete separation”. The city of Nuremberg was helplessly confronted with such hardened fronts.
2012 BIS 2014 – THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Numerous ideas (from demolition to complete restructuring) have now been discussed for the Z-Bau. It ended in a “concept competition”, advertised by the City of Nuremberg. The previous operators were therefore no longer taken into account. The competition was finally won by the Musikzentrale Nürnberg (MUZ).
Soon delegates from MUZ, KV and other volunteers gathered to plan the future of the building and its design. Thus, the Kunstverein contributes more to the organisation of the entire house. This is also underlined by the fact that the Kunstverein holds a 20% stake in the newly founded “Gesellschaft fürkulturischer Freiräume GmbH”. This company should in future be responsible for the fate of Z-Bau.
This paved the way for a new cultural centre. When the renovation phase was due to begin, the Kunstverein moved out of the Z-Bau in March 2012. However, a replacement object was cancelled by the city of Nuremberg at short notice, so that the Kunstverein’s homelessness for over a year followed. Finally, a temporary shelter was found on the Geyer site in Nimrodstraße. Events like in the past were not possible here, however. But it was sufficient for holding the meetings and sitting together in a cosy atmosphere.
2015 — THE MOTHERSHIP HAS LANDED
After a long toil and sweaty drudgery in spring/summer 2015 with lots of people around the Kunstverein and the Z-Bau, we’ve managed it: Since October 2015 the whole house has been reopened and the Kunstverein can resume its old habits: Halli Galli dirt-sauparty restarted!
Take a look at the marvel and – if you like it and you have some ideas – come along and join in to keep the Z-Bau going!