Endstation Paradies / Last Stop: Paradise

This year's 48 Stunden Neukölln reflects the impact of the 275th anniversary of a large number of religious refugees from Bohemia settling in (Böhmisch)-Rixdorf. They had suffered religious persecution in their homeland and were in desperate need of a safe haven. Friedrich Wilhelm I duly invited a number of families to settle in Berlin, where they established themselves in a village that later bore a name making reference to them, on 15 June, 1737.

It is apt to remember this event as it coincides with this year's festival. By doing so, it also provides us with an occasion to consider what affect immigration has had on Neukölln since 1737. How well do different populations, practitioners of very different religions, with divergent cultures co-exist on a practical level? Have various generations of immigrants who have settled in Neukölln come in search of their own private happiness and prosperity and perhaps found their own personal paradise here? Why have so many people who are internationally active in all manner of creative activity moved to Neukölln in recent years– and what impact has this had on life in the district?

From 15 - 17 June, 2012 48 Stunden Neukölln cordially invites you to participate in the largest festival of the arts in Berlin. Our programme consists of all manner of artistic activity, such as visual arts events, theatre, dance and performance, as well as readings, guided tours and other celebrations of diversity. Detailed information will be available on our website from mid-May.

On the weekend of the festival itself, streets and public squares, garden allotments, parks as well as, as you would expect, galleries, theatres, artists' studios and neighbourhood centres, pubs, private flats and a gamut of other, often unexpected venues will host a broad range of cultural activity, enticing people to explore northern Neukölln and the remarkable spectrum of cultural activity to be found here. During 48 Stunden Neukölln, visitors can meander from event to event, with hundreds of events to choose from.

Over the course of its history, there has been much talk of Neukölln's decline. 15 years ago, Spiegel magazine featured a cover story about “Last Stop: Paradise“, detailing social conflicts and societal ruin, even an end to civilisation as we know it in Neukölln. Most recently, the media has been full of reports about nearly paradisical signs on the ground in what is now described as a trendy district. Public perceptions of Neukölln veer between hell fire and paradise. 48 Stunden Neukölln provides ample opportunities for resident artists and international figures in the art world to present their personal perspectives of the issue and enter into dialogue with visitors on this, and other issues.