A Productive Region. Part 2

The exhibition presents a conceptual model for a solidarity-based local economy in the newly envisioned region of “Kreuzberg–Hellersdorf–East Brandenburg”: Public institutions spend their funds exclusively at the local level. Their contracts generate income for regional producers. Inspired by the “Buen vivir” (Good Life) and “Community Wealth Building” movements, the model calls for greater local autonomy and less influence from the global free market.

The idea is visualized using a large artistic tabletop model of the region, depicting its network of institutions and producers. The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH) plays a central role in the “Productive Region,” both geographically and in terms of its mission. As a public institution, it can drive a solidarity-based local economy: Its “Café Alte Mensa,” organized by residents and students, purchases supplies, fruits, and vegetables exclusively from producers between Kreuzberg and Küstrin—entirely in the spirit of the innovative urban planner and biologist Patrick Geddes: “It takes the whole region to be a city.” This conceptual model could provide impetus within the “Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region” for the Senate-funded project “Lebendiges Zentrum Helle Mitte 2026–2037” and the IBA Berlin 2034–2037.

The tabletop model is complemented by contributions on the philosophy of life known as “Buen Vivir” practiced by the indigenous peoples of South America, on the World Social Forum process, and on social movements for climate justice and a good life for all. These contributions illustrate how long people around the world have been advocating for systems based on solidarity.

The “Classroom of the Future” pavilion is part of the “station urbaner kulturen”/nGbK Hellersdorf site. From 2025 to 2027, the nGbK is making the pavilion available to the “Zwischenräume” project of the Alice Salomon University/Campus Transferale. The installation of the pavilion is supported by the Marzahn-Hellersdorf District Office.

Opening: July 15, 2026, 5:00 p.m., featuring contributions from Afrique-Europe-Interact & timecode e.V.; AG Re:Mensa – solidarity, fairness, local; “Zwischenräume” Residents’ Advisory Board; Bamenda Film Association; Forum for Sustainable Urban Development Marzahn-Hellersdorf; Antonio Pacor. Curated by Eva Hertzsch, Adam Page, and Andrea Plöger.