Governing Mayor Kai Wegner “UdK x Berlin” – Exhibition explores the relationship between the capital city and its universities

Feb. 9, 2026 - “Four of Germany’s top universities. Five, If you count the street” – Building on a slogan from Berlin’s city image campaign, students and faculty from Berlin University of the Arts are presenting works that explore the city through a creative lens.

At the heart of the exhibition is a central question: How do the university and the city shape one another – and what role does artistic research play in the urban sphere? “UdK x Berlin” offers insight into artistic and academic practice, highlights diverse perspectives and invites visitors to engage in dialogue.

The exhibition is a joint initiative of the State of Berlin, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology and the Berlin University of the Arts. It will open Feb. 23 with remarks by Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, UdK President Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert and Berlin Partner CEO Dr. Stefan Franzke.

““Berlin’s universities are centers of scholarship, research and the arts – places where creativity and innovation thrive,” said Kai Wegner, governing mayor of Berlin. “Here in Berlin, academic excellence meets the courage to experiment and to pursue bold ideas. The dynamic interplay of research and art at the University of the Arts is what makes Berlin a global creative hub, attracting talent from around the world.The works presented for the first time in our ‘UdK x Berlin’ exhibition are a testament to that.”
“For our university, Berlin is an active sounding board for artistic and academic practice,” said Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert, president of UdK Berlin. “Our collaboration with the State of Berlin and Berlin Partner highlights just how closely intertwined the city and the university truly are – and how students and faculty reflect on that relationship in creative and critical ways. In doing so, we contribute to the outstanding education of our students and to the relevance of art and scholarship for the city’s civic life.”

Dr. Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner: “Berlin is a magnet for ideas, innovation and creative diversity. This is where science, culture and business converge to shape a city that constantly reinvents itself. With ‘UdK x Berlin,’ we have created a platform that reimagines the connection between city and university while opening up fresh perspectives. Together, we are strengthening the capital’s profile as a leading creative metropolis and amplifying its visibility through the city’s image campaign.”

Residents and visitors alike are invited to experience photography, installations, paintings and media art from Feb. 24–26, 2026, at Masumi Space on Kurfürstendamm.  Admission is free.

Opening reception: Feb. 23, 2026, 6 p.m.
Exhibition dates: Feb. 24–26, 2026, 1–8 p.m.
Masumi Space, Kurfürstendamm 229, 10719 Berlin

Featuring works by Ana Luiza Anjos, Sara Assadi, The Aureus Quartet of the Julius Stern Institute, Saqib Aziz, Kurt von Bley, Özcan Ertek, Clemens Fischer, Hannah Fischer and Emil Woop, Sally Frey, Haus 8 Kollektiv, Constantin Hartenstein, Marietta Krampitz, Julia Linden and Roxana Öztoprak, HU Jinchi, Seonkyu OH, Les Ateliers de bricolage and the Department of Architectural History + Theory, Juyeong Park, Hibiki Ishijima, Ran Ren and Elisabeth Scholz, Simon Ostaschenko, Dayhe Seo

The exhibition is curated by Dr. Michaela Conen, head of Strategic Marketing, and Insa Ruckdeschel, manager of Strategic Marketing at UdK Berlin. Further information on the exhibition and participating artists is available online.

Speakers at the opening reception:
Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin
Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert, President, Berlin University of the Arts
Dr. Stefan Franzke, CEO, Berlin Partner

Media representatives are kindly requested to register for the opening reception by Feb. 19, 2026 at https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/aktuelles/termine/formular.1284452.php