Oyoun says goodbye to Lucy-Lameck-Straße

Berlin, May 17.12.2024, XNUMX – The Neukölln cultural centre Oyoun says goodbye after five years from the house in Lucy-Lameck-Straße. With the guest festival UNFRAME at the end of November and the last events last weekend, a formative era comes to an end.

The keys will be officially handed over on January 8, 2025. The building is to remain empty despite enormous maintenance costs of 530.000 euros - another example of neglect and questionable decisions within the Berlin cultural administration.

Since the surprise announcement at a meeting of the Cultural Committee in November 2023 that the funding promised until the end of 2025 would be terminated prematurely, Oyoun has been forced to fend off official, legal and media attacks for over a year. All attempts to enter into a dialogue with the Berlin cultural administration were unsuccessful. Instead, narratives were spread that undermined the work and integrity of the house in the public
perception. Thanks to a strong community, Oyoun was able to take legal action against some of these attacks and set a precedent that has significance beyond the house.

Division instead of unity – Oyoun remains steadfast
The term “precedent” was already central in the first press statement. In retrospect, this has been confirmed in a frightening way: the current cuts in Berlin’s cultural budget, which were decided with little advance notice and without sufficient discussions, continue a model that endangers social cohesion and undermines important cultural work.

Funding is being stopped – regardless of contractual obligations, employment relationships or social responsibility. Institutions that stand for diversity, intersectionality and power-critical perspectives are particularly affected.

Despite these challenges, Oyoun will continue its work. Managing Director Louna Sbou emphasizes: “We now know that we have to leave the house. On the one hand, we feel disillusioned, but above all encouraged to continue in a new way. The cohesion and the extent of the attacks have shown us how powerful and necessary the cultural work our content orientation. With this farewell we would like to thank everyone who has supported us until today, as well as those who, through their critical attitude, gave us the chance to define our values ​​with more clarity internalize. Oyoun's slogan has always been 'more than a house' - and that's what we stand for."

In the coming months, Oyoun will realign processes, strengthen partnerships and share resources – and in doing so, show new ways for a vibrant, discursive and international cultural landscape.

Further information and inquiries can be sent by email to hallo@oyoun.de.