February 21, 2022 | Engel & Völkers Commercial Berlin, Gesobau and VBKI call for support for professional Berlin musicians - aid program #hierspieltdiemusik enters second round
Berlin is known far beyond Germany's borders for its vibrant, exciting music scene. To keep it that way, we and our partners Gesobau and VBKI are asking Berlin's business community for support for the #hierspieltdiemusik project, which is entering its second round. The initiative supports professional Berlin musicians who are struggling for their existence because of Corona. And helps the city remain what it is: a magnet for creative personalities, not only in the cultural sector.
For more than two years, the pandemic has deprived music creators of what they desperately need to make a living: their audience. Even after the harsh lockdown measures have ended, performances are cancelled. Those that can take place are often considerably smaller in scale than before Corona - either because of pandemic regulations or because visitors stay home for fear of contagion.
This affects not only the musicians, but everyone. The music scene is an indispensable part of what makes Berlin Berlin. Last but not least, businesses, merchants, and people in the business community benefit from it. But with every concert that does not take place, every piece that is not composed, a part of this capital is lost. Together, we would like to help make it easier for musicians to get a fresh start.
To this end, we launched the #hierspieltdiemusik project last year with the housing company Gesobau and the Verein Berliner Kaufleute. At that time, we succeeded in raising 436,000 euros in donations from the real estate industry, which were distributed to more than 400 professional musicians. In 2022, the initiative is now entering its second round with a cross-sector appeal for donations. Because in its third Corona year, help continues to be urgently needed.
"The donations are an important contribution to the livelihood of music creators and a motivation for them not to give up," says Rackham F. Schröder, Managing Director of Engel & Völkers Commercial Berlin and a member of the award committee. "However, #hierspieltdiemusik is not only an emergency aid for the musicians, but just as much for the city. If we want Berlin to still be a creative hub after the pandemic, we have to help now."
An eight-member award committee decides on the distribution of the funds. In addition to representatives of the initiators, its members include prominent musicians such as the singers of The BossHoss, Alec Völkel and Sascha Vollmer, the voice of De Phazz, Pat Appleton, and the Berlin rapper Prinz Pi.
We hope that Berlin companies and also Berlin owners will generously support the #hierspieltdiemusik project so that great music can continue to take place. Donate as well! Interested donors can find all information about the project at www.hierspieltdiemusik.berlin.
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