10 Things to Know About Kreuzberg's Open Air Gallery

Started in 2002, over the past 16 years the Open Air Gallery has grown in popularity across Berlin, with locals coming out twice a year, rain or shine to enjoy the festival. Committed to creating a dialogue between artists and visitors, the open-air gallery remains an important cultural event in Berlin.

Closing down Oberbaumbrücke for one day at a time, the stretching gallery is known as the ‘Art Mile’ in Berlin. Not quite as famous as Berlin’s Beer Mile, this linear gallery still puts on a fun-filled summer open-air event.

The festival allows locals and tourists to discover hidden and well-known creatives and artists from the city and abroad. With more than 100 artists, both established and young talents, exhibiting their work at the gallery each year.

Artists can apply for a spot at the curated open-air affair twice a year. There are separate rounds for the June exhibition and its July counterpart, ensuring a fresh, exciting show at each event.

Artists present their work over a range of different mediums, segmented into four different categories: paintings, graphics, sculptures and photography.

The open-air gallery might look like a typical Berlin flea market, albeit in a unique location, however, its focus is solely on art. So while no crafts or jewellery is on offer, instead, contemporary, still life, modern and many other styles of art find a home within the gallery’s white tents.

During the festival, a 120-meter long canvas is rolled out and guests are invited to create their own masterpieces by painting, drawing and doodling on the collective canvas.

When Berlin was still divided the Oberbaumbrücke was a border crossing for pedestrians. Overlooking the river Spree the sight also bore witness to many escape attempts from East to West.

Just around the corner from Oberbaumbrücke is East Side Gallery. It’s the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall and its colourful, political and vibrant murals make it the largest, year-round open-air gallery in Berlin.

Stretching between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, the Open Air Art Gallery is nestled between two trendy Berlin ‘hoods. Where cool cocktails bars, some of the city’s best clubs and tastiest eats await visitors after they’ve had their art fix.