Summer Arts Lounge 2024: Wrapping up the three month on Spree in Friedrichshain
The Althafen Foundation concluded its inaugural summer season with the Summer Arts Lounge 2024, a three-month interdisciplinary festival featuring world-class classical music, jazz, and fine arts. Held in a newly repurposed river-level space in Friedrichshain, the event brought together celebrated artists, ambitious programming, and an international team to establish itself as a significant addition to Berlin’s cultural landscape.
Photo: Ivan Chumak
From Concept to Launch: A Bold Initiative
The Summer Arts Lounge was envisioned, developed, and executed in a remarkably short time-span. What began as a conversation between Althafen Foundation’s Artistic Director Mark Prihodko and Managing Director Vitaly Kivmann quickly turned into a full-scale arts festival.
Photo: Tanja Schnitzler
Under Prihodko’s leadership, the industrial venue was converted into a dual-purpose gallery and performance space. Chief Operations Officer Jennifer Nowak-Mischkovsky reflects on the challenge:
“We managed construction, programming, PR, and partnerships simultaneously. It was a test of strength for an international team that had only just begun to take shape.”
The Foundation’s perseverance paid off. Over the course of the summer, the festival featured highlights from the NOACK Collection and the Heinz Troekes Archive, alongside reconstructed works by Mirta Domacinovic, originally created for the East Side Gallery. Berlin-based Kuckei + Kuckei Gallery contributed works by artists Barbara Probst and Peter K. Koch.
On the performance front, a collaboration with ZigZag Jazz Club brought standout names such as Al Di Meola, Charles Lloyd, Cécile Mclorin Salvant, Joshua Redman, Shai Maestro and Veronica Swift, while classical programming featured the award-winning Alinde Quartett, Matthias Well, Lilian Akopova, and the Tonhain Kollektiv, among others.
The People Who Made It Possible
What set the Summer Arts Lounge apart was not only its ambitious programming but also the people behind it. From artists to volunteers, collaboration played a key role in the festival’s success.
A call for volunteers brought together a team of 24 individuals representing 13 countries. Stefanie Kuptsova, a core team member, describes the group as united by a shared passion for the arts:
“They came from backgrounds in medicine, communications, fashion, and literature. Their diversity was our strength. We organized workshops on art history, arts management, and nonprofit administration to create a comprehensive learning experience alongside their contribution to the festival.”
This commitment to education extended beyond the summer. Some volunteers have since joined the Foundation as interns, including Niels Peter Olrik, now Artist Liaison:
“I spent my summer connecting with some of the world’s top artists. The experience and relationships we built were invaluable.”
Looking Ahead: 2024-2025 Season
As the festival wrapped, the Althafen Foundation quickly turned its focus to the future. “The Summer Arts Lounge successfully highlighted Berlin’s rich cultural identity,” says Kivmann. “Now, we look ahead to supporting a new season of world-class artists and initiatives.”
A benefit concert at the Berliner Philharmonie on October 17th has marked the start of the season, featuring performances by Mark Prihodko, pianist Ben Kim, and the Alinde Quartet. The 2024-2025 season will continue on featuring the Alinde Quartett as “Portrait Artists” in residency at the Kölner Philharmonie and composer Lera Auerbach as the Foundation’s “Creative Portrait” alongside her residency with Konzerthaus Berlin.
As Marylea Van Daalen, Head of the Board, sums it up:
“We brought as many people on board as we could, and it was a success. Now we continue, with ambition and purpose.”
The Summer Arts Lounge was more than an event; it was a statement of intent. The Althafen Foundation has firmly established itself as a leader in fostering meaningful, exceptional cultural programs, balancing artistry and innovation as it builds towards a sustainable, impactful future