BERGHAIN RECOGNISED AS “CULTURE” SPACE IN LANDMARK LEGAL CASE

Berghain has been recognised as a space of “culture”, alongside Berlin’s theatres, museums and concerts, after winning a landmark legal case.

The Kreuzberg techno institution successfully fought a lengthy trial at Finanzgericht Berlin-Brandenburg, located in Cottbus outside Berlin, to reverse a 12% tax increase implemented in 2009.

Clubs in Berlin have been taxed at a rate of 19% since then, when authorities deemed them places of “entertainment” and not “culture”, whilst businesses falling into the latter category, which includes theatres, museums and concerts, pay 7% tax on their annual turnover.

As part of the legal case that reversed the changes from 2009, Berghain commissioned culture writer Tobias Rapp, author of the book Lost And Sound, to write a report to support their case that argued the venue’s patrons were there for the music, as with those that attend concerts in the city.

Earlier this month, American comedian and talk show host, Conan O'Brien, was spotted filming outside Berghain. That was before Turner Prize-winning German artist Wolfgang Tillmans revealed he inspired Frank Ocean’s new album with a trip to the world famous Berlin nightclub.

Rob McCallum is DJ Mag’s deputy digital editor. Follow him on Twitter here.