Last week, the dance community was up in arms with the devastating news that UK clubbing institution Fabric London would be permanently closing , yet it appears they do things rather differently across the North Sea. Over the weekend, the news emerged that, thanks to a landmark legal win for techno institution Berghain , not only is the future of the club secure, but its endeavors are now recognized as “high culture.”
German newspaper Der Spiegel is reporting that Berghain has won a long-running battle with German tax authorities over whether the club is considered “entertainment” or “culture,” with the latter classification meaning the club is placed in a lower tax bracket.
While authorities had claimed Berghain was “ruled by entertainment, not by culture,” and hence deserving of the higher 19 percent “entertainment” tax rate, a ruling in the fiscal court for the Berlin-Brandenburg region placed the club in the same “culture” category occupied by classical music, meaning it ultimately pays the lower tax rate of 7 percent.
The news is hardly unprecedented for the country’s lauded dance scene, with its proliferation of amazing nightclubs with self-regulating opening hours assisted by organizations like the Clubcommission helping them get recognized as spaces of legit culture.
Meanwhile, clubs like Berghain are blurring the boundaries between art and music to begin with, showcased last year in the club’s 10-year anniversary exhibition that celebrated some of the painting, photography, installations and sculptures featured within its sweaty four walls over the years.
