Hallen Kalk: Cultural center or empty dream?

Hallen Kalk: Cultural center or empty dream?

Cologne-Kalk is facing exciting changes: The Kalk halls on Dillenburger Straße are to be transformed into a multifunctional cultural center. An ambitious project that brings both challenges and opportunities. The responsible initiatives, including the Osthof Responsibility Community (VGO), have been fighting for the financing and development of the halls for some time. These are former Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz production facilities, some of which are listed buildings and therefore have to meet special requirements. The city of Cologne owns the property and also has final decision-making authority.

So what's next for the halls? The condition of the buildings leaves a lot to be desired: some of them are dilapidated, while the statics and stability of others need to be checked. However, the first pilot phase of the Kunsthaus Kalk, which will go into operation in September, has already started successfully. The first inclusive class of an art academy is housed here. In addition, the first open-air festival “Kalk-Airs” took place in July 2024, which is seen as a real step towards a lively use of the halls. But numerous initiatives, such as the Creation Center for Contemporary Circus or the Kulturhof Kalk, are demanding more support from the city, which has not included any budget in the current budget.

Cultural impulses and challenges

Art and culture in the city are not just a nice way to pass the time, they are vital for social interaction. StädteTag emphasizes that cultural institutions enrich life in cities and contribute to identification with the community. This realization has also reached Kalk, where the planned “Selma” migration museum in Hall 70 is intended to function as a place for intercultural encounters. The museum, which is scheduled to open in 2029, will celebrate and present the stories and perspectives of migrants in Germany. It shows how migration is not only associated with challenges, but also with dreams and the pursuit of a better life.

To implement this ambitious project, the Documentation Center for Migration in Germany (DOMiD) will receive the leasehold on Hall 70. Migazin reports that the center, which has been documenting the history of Turkish immigrants since 1990 documented, now has a space that comprehensively addresses the diversity of migration in Germany. Preparations including exhibitions and mini-projects are already underway to make the museum the first point of contact for intercultural exchange.

The future of the Kalk halls

According to Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Cologne politics is positive about the development of the halls. Six years after a workshop process began, which aims to create affordable spaces for culture and small businesses, work is underway to create longer-term financial security to support the various initiatives. The development of Halls 75 to 77 remains unclear: the city is currently looking for developers for these dilapidated buildings. The plan for a new development area between Neuerburgstrasse and the open-air hall is also in sight.

It remains exciting to see how the different approaches and ideas can be brought together to create a thriving cultural center from the Hallen Kalk that enriches not only artists, but also Berlin society as a whole.