Creative spaces in Hamburg: Guidance for artists looking for studios in the Hanseatic city

Hamburg is important for the art scene in Germany and Europe. To reflect this importance, several organizations promote and support local art there with studio space or funding. The foundation of Hamburg's art scene rests on securing and improving studios and professionalizing artistic work to remain internationally competitive. It's well known that space is becoming increasingly scarce and increasingly expensive in large cities and metropolitan areas.

Hamburg is countering this trend with a complex strategy to secure space and funding for artists. This strategy goes beyond simple financial support and has a lasting impact on the development of the city and its creative scene. This is good news for artists who have chosen the Hanseatic city as their preferred location.

The political and administrative framework: stakeholders and strategic orientation

The cultural landscape in Hamburg is primarily managed by two complementary institutions: the Ministry of Culture and Media (BKM) and the Hamburg Creative Society (HKG) . The BKM, as the highest state authority, sets the cultural policy guidelines and is responsible for the direct funding of professional artists. Meanwhile, the HKG, as a municipal institution supporting the creative industries, fulfills a crucial intermediary role between the arts scene, the real estate market, and economic development.

The cultural and media authority as guardian of professional standards

The BKM focuses its resources on supporting visual artists from Hamburg who work professionally and diligently. In this context, professionalism is not only a qualitative characteristic but also a formal requirement for accessing almost all state funding instruments.

Normally, this proof is provided by a completed degree in Fine Arts or by continuous, verifiable exhibition activity as well as membership in professional organizations such as the BBK .

The city's cultural funding program recognizes that affordable workspaces are essential for the survival of artists and cultural workers. A key component of the BKM's (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media) funding is therefore financial support for studio expansion . Funds are provided to transform vacant or dilapidated spaces into functional artists' studios. The long-term preservation of these spaces is the program's objective, reflected in the mandatory requirement of a minimum five-year lease.

The Hamburg Creative Society: A driving force for innovation in urban development

The Hamburg Creative Society was founded in 2010 to sustainably improve the economic foundation for creative professionals. It pursues a holistic approach: offering artists individual guidance, coaching, and workshops to establish their practices on an economically viable footing. Its expertise in urban spaces is particularly noteworthy.

HKG creates transparency in a real estate market that is often difficult to access by maintaining a comprehensive real estate database and actively supporting urban development processes.

A key aspect of HKG's strategy is the understanding that artistic use can act as a catalyst for neighborhood development. This is clearly demonstrated by the acquisition and management of properties such as the "Old School" on Seilerstraße in St. Pauli, where the company acts as the main tenant, offering space to over 50 creative professionals for subletting and thus ending vacancy in a central location.

Spatial infrastructure for artists and studio centers

Hamburg offers various models for securing workspace for visual artists, ranging from historically established cooperatives and state-initiated creative quarters to creative interim-use concepts. The availability of space is closely linked to the usage models and the financing structures that support these models.

State-funded creative quarters: The Oberhafen

One of Hamburg's most ambitious urban development projects is the Oberhafenquartier . An area of ​​approximately 8.9 hectares near HafenCity is being gradually developed to transform former freight depots into space for the creative industries. The aim is to create a place characterized by a "raw" aesthetic and low barriers to entry.

To prevent artists from being displaced by the adjacent, high-priced HafenCity district, the city of Hamburg aims to secure fair rents in the long term. The Oberhafen area offers various forms of workspace, ranging from spacious shared studios to specialized workshops.

The cost of a workspace in a shared studio in Oberhafen can be around 108 euros per month, which is exceptionally cheap compared to prices in Hamburg.”

Artists with extensive equipment can receive support during relocation or moving in from a competent and experienced moving company like Hansa Transporte Hamburg . From small transport jobs to the safe transport of bulky items and furniture assembly, individual requirements can be conveniently discussed in a short video call.

Cooperative models and occupied spaces: fux eG and Gängeviertel

Self-managed projects are the opposite of state-controlled neighborhood developments. The fux cooperative , located in the former Viktoria barracks in Altona, is an example of how civic engagement and cooperative ownership can secure workspaces in the long term.

The association Frappant eV , which manages a number of studios in the fux building, regularly awards scholarships and exhibition spaces, focusing on qualified artistic practices.

Another example of the successful institutionalization of a formerly squatted space is the Gängeviertel in Hamburg's city center. A cooperative now manages the historic building complex, which serves as a recognized art and cultural center. In addition to permanent studios, the Gängeviertel offers international artist residencies to connect the local scene with global art discourses.

Comparison of spatial conditions in Hamburg studio centers

The following table provides an overview of the documented rental and usage conditions at various art venues in Hamburg. This data illustrates the significant difference in cost levels between subsidized/cooperative prices and the open real estate market.

Location / Project	Sponsorship	Type of use	Conditions (approx.)	Special features
Oberhafen	Municipal (HKG)	shared studio	€108 – €226 / month	Focus on production & networking
Victoria Barracks	Cooperative (fux)	Individual/Community	approx. €8.90 / m²	Self-governance, Altona location
Gängeviertel	cooperative	Studios & Residencies	Variable (subsidized)	City center, historical context
Free_area	Municipal (HKG)	Temporary use	€1.50 / m²	Temporary retail space
Peutestraße	Private / Association	Studio space	€300 flat rate	Rothenburgsort, industrial area
Grindel high-rises	SAGA / BKM	Live-work studio	approx. €800 (total)	Specific tender
Westwork	Association / BKM	residence	Rent-free (scholarship)	Including living expenses

Frei_Fläche program : Temporary use of vacant spaces

To counteract the increasing vacancy rate in retail spaces, especially in Hamburg's city center, the city launched the " Frei_Fläche: Raum für kreative Zwischennutzung" (Free Space: Room for Creative Interim Use) Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft (Hamburg Creative Society developed the program and implemented it with expert support from the state-owned real estate management and land management company (LIG) .

Mechanisms and economic impacts

The main objective of "Frei_Fläche" is to connect creative professionals with vacant ground-floor spaces for a symbolic rent of €1.50 per square meter. The difference to the market rent is covered by government subsidies. This allows artists to set up their studios and exhibition spaces in high-traffic areas like Mönckebergstraße or Neuer Wall , something that would normally be economically unfeasible.

The program has been extremely successful: By mid-2025, over 28,000 square meters of vacancy had been successfully prevented. A well-known example is the "JUPITER" in the former Karstadt Sport building. Germany's most extensive temporary use project for the creative industries covers approximately 22,000 square meters and offers space for studios, pop-up stores, and exhibitions. The program's extension into 2025 demonstrates the importance of temporary use as a means of revitalizing city centers and showcasing artistic production.

Direct funding programs of the cultural and media authority

In addition to providing space, the city of Hamburg also offers a range of direct financial support measures to ensure the quality of artistic work and to improve the infrastructure of the studios.

Funding for studio expansion

The BKM offers studio expansion funding for artists who have found a space but find it unsuitable for artistic use. This investment-oriented program supports projects such as installing heating, lighting systems, and water connections, or implementing necessary fire safety measures.

However, the requirements for applicants are considerable:

• Submission of a detailed building description and a cost plan
• Proof of long-term security of use through a lease agreement of at least five years.
• Portfolio as proof of professionalism and presentation of artistic career.
• Proof of own contributions or equity in the financing plan

Project funding for visual arts

The purpose of project funding is to implement targeted artistic projects such as exhibitions, publications, or the production of new series of works. In 2025, the BKM (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media) allocated a total of €150,000 for this purpose; however, the number of applications received (104 applications) significantly exceeded the available funds.

A crucial step in Hamburg's funding practices is the establishment of minimum standards for artists' fees. The cost-financing plan must include a flat fee of €1,000 for individuals and €2,000 for groups in advance. This aims to gradually improve the precarious income situation of visual artists.

Scholarships and residency programs

Grants are an important means of giving artists the time they need for research and production.

1. Hamburg working grants : The BKM, in cooperation with the Hamburg Cultural Foundation and the BBK, awards annual working grants that include a monthly payment and a final presentation at the Kunsthaus Hamburg.
2. Westwerk Residency : Artists can use this international program to live rent-free in a spacious 68 m² residence apartment in Westwerk; in addition, they receive a monthly allowance of approximately 800 to 900 euros.
3. Dulsberg Neighborhood Artist : This scholarship, supported by the SAGA Group, includes a monthly grant of 1,500 euros and free use of a studio in the Dulsberg district.
4. Garden Art Network Scholarship : A specific workspace scholarship that includes free access to the association's grounds and the exclusive use of a scholarship container.

Economic support and financing through IFB Hamburg

The Hamburg Investment and Development Bank (IFB) offers specialized loan programs for larger investments or the establishment of artistic businesses. Artists' collectives or studio communities who want to acquire or extensively renovate their own premises consider these instruments particularly relevant.

Low-interest loans for cultural institutions and the creative industries

The IFB helps modernize and expand the buildings of cultural institutions through low-interest loans. The "IFB Cultural Development Loan" has a minimum loan amount of €20,000 and can be supported by guarantees of up to 80 percent of the total costs.

During the start-up phase, the "Hamburg Micro Loan" important for young companies and freelancers. It offers up to 100 percent of eligible costs and loan amounts from €5,000 to €25,000. A significant advantage is that the entire sum is disbursed and there are no processing fees; this minimizes the financial burden during the initial phase.

Overview of IFB financing instruments

program	Target audience	volume	Conditions / Purpose
IFB promotional loan for culture	cultural institutions	from €20,000	Modernization & expansion of facilities
Hamburg Credit Micro	Founders (up to 5 years)	5.000 € – 25.000 €	Up to 100% cost coverage
Hamburg Credit Global	Established players	Upon request	Contract durations of up to 30 years are possible
Workspace Promotion	Innovative start-ups	workplace	Free use of office space

Consulting, networking and professional representation

The complex funding landscape and the specific legal challenges faced by artists necessitate professional support structures. In Hamburg, this task Professional Association of Visual Artists (BBK) and the Association of Studios for Art (AfK)

The Professional Association of Visual Artists (BBK) in Hamburg

The BBK Hamburg serves as a central point of contact for professional artists and offers a wide range of advisory services. Members have access to the following services at its office in the Kunsthaus Hamburg:

• Legal advice : The association works with specialized media law firms and experts such as Eva Gabriel-Jürgens to provide information on copyright, contract law and media law.
• Economic consulting : Analyses of the living conditions of artists provide information about income, pensions and the situation in the artists' social security fund (KSK).
• Publications : Professional policy developments at the state and federal levels are regularly reported.
• Artists' Old Age Support : Help in social emergencies in old age.

In addition, the BBK increases the visibility of artists through the “Open Studios” , the Hamburg Artists’ Archive and various event formats such as “POSITION. Forum/Exhibition” .

Studios for Art Hamburg (AfK)

The AfK association focuses on the central issue of workspace. It supports artists in their search for studios, helps to form studio communities, and mediates in conflicts between user groups.

The AfK is often directly involved in the tendering and awarding of subsidized studio spaces, such as the scholarships at the Künstlerhaus Sootbörn or specific studio scholarships of the Liebelt Foundation .

Consulting resources of the Hamburg Creative Society

HKG offers specialized business and legal training programs to complement its core services. These include:

• Individual orientation consulting : Support with market positioning.
• Portfolio consulting : In collaboration with the Design Center Hamburg, we aim to improve your self-presentation.
• Crowdfunding consulting : Help in acquiring alternative sources of financing.
• Creative Business Academy : Supported advanced training programs for creative professionals.