exploratorium berlin

History

The exploratorium berlin was founded in May 2004 by Matthias Schwabe, initially as a one-man operation on a 240 square metre floor in the Sarotti courtyards.

The founding idea was to create a place that was explicitly and exclusively dedicated to musical improvisation. The three pillars for this were
– Concerts
– Weekend workshops & regular courses
– a monthly open stage.

The concept met with a great response and the number of events increased, so that by the fifth anniversary in 2009, a team of four was already at work and the space had been expanded to 534 square metres.

Reinhard Gagel joined the exploratorium in 2012 and established the Theory & Research department as the fourth area, which includes a specialised library and an archive. Mathias Maschat took over this area in 2019.

Another topic has developed naturally over the years: Regular courses became permanent ensembles. This was the fulfilment of a great wish from the founding period: Improvisation ensembles should become as commonplace as chamber music ensembles, choirs, orchestras or bands. So far, this is only the case in the exploratorium and not (yet!) at all music schools and universities, but at least a start has been made!
Since 2020, Ursula Seeger in particular has been building up the “Junges explo” area as a fifth pillar: Regular courses, weekend and holiday workshops, offers for school classes and parent-child offers are becoming increasingly popular and have become an important part of the work.

Since June 2023, the exploratorium berlin has been based at Zossener Straße 24 in Berlin-Kreuzberg.

Mission statement

exploratorium berlin offers space for free improvisation in various art forms – music, dance, poetry, theater and visual arts. We understand improvisation as an artistic language; it can be an easy introduction to music-making as well as a high-level art form. This form of creativity unfolds particularly well when it takes place in a group. As in any good conversation, the performers inspire each other and develop ideas that transcend the capabilities of any single individual.

Learning (through) free improvisation means: to gain creative experience, to understand the individual arts “from within” and it also means engaging in the creative flow. This requires being aware and alert in every moment of one’s own and towards collective musical/artistic processes. It also requires intensive perception of and listening to the fellow participants.

exploratorium berlin aims its programs at visitors and participants from Berlin and around the world. On stage we feature a diverse range of artists working in Berlin, Germany, Europe and beyond. We strive to provide opportunities for improvisational experiences for all age groups. Our program caters to professional performers as well as semi-professionals and amateurs. We aim to create a communicative network that fosters dialogue between artists, educators, course participants, the audience and our staff – each with their own diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences, and cultures.

exploratorium berlin stands for diversity of opinion and artistic freedom. We actively advocate for equal opportunities, fair conditions, diversity, participation and inclusion within the cultural landscape.

In this context, there is no room for discrimination, hate speech or violence of any kind, no room for antisemitism, islamophobia, racism, sexism or other forms of exclusion and denigration!

We at exploratorium berlin strive to be a place where openness, respect and generosity are practiced daily. A space where everyone, regardless of age, physical ability, gender or gender identity, skin color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, social status, ability or other individual characteristics, can feel safe and can learn or work, free from discrimination and intolerance.

We expect everyone who collaborates with us and/or uses our services—be it members of the staff, workshop leaders, artists, workshop participants or audience—to respect these principles and to act responsibly.

To ensure a pleasant and respectful experience at exploratorium, we are constantly learning and expanding our perspectives.

If you would like to provide feedback, report harassment or abuse, or file a complaint, you can contact us anonymously via our contact and feedback form or you can send an email to: info@exploratorium-berlin.de.