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Access Art Schools Berlin

source: Mahgol Mohammadi

PROGRAM 2026

Access Art Schools Berlin is a joint project that prepares at-risk students for artistic and academic studies in Berlin. It offers a range of support measures for prospective students. The concept is tailored to the needs of the target group and aligns with the overall support framework for at-risk persons at Berlin University of the Arts. The individual programs offered by Berlin University of the Arts and Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts are open to all at-risk applicants to Berlin’s art academies, while the joint initiatives provide a strong advisory and support structure to help ensure successful applications.

LANGUAGE COURSES

# 4 Free Language Courses as study preparation

  • (Completed) Online C1 German Course June 1 – July 31, 2026
  • (Completed) B2.1 German Course July 6 – August 28, 2026.
  • (currently running) B2.2 German Course Oct. 5 – Nov. 27, 2026. 
     
  • C1.1 Online German Course Oct. 26 – Dec. 10, 2026. Applications are accepted until Oct. 19, 2026.
    Click here to register.
     

# additional services – Get-Together and individual academic guidance with Dr. Mareike Brlečić Layer

  • 1st Get-Together: June 22, starting at 4:00 p.m. at Café Kubik, Hardenbergstr. 33 (3rd floor), open to all prospective students at risk
  • 2nd Get-Together: July 13, meeting point: 7:00 p.m. in front of the UdK building at Bundesallee 1-12, location: a nearby park
  • 3rd Get-Together: 9 November, starting at 1:30 p.m. at Café Joseph's (UdK building), Bundesallee 1-12

COMMON GROUND

#Common Ground Studio

The Common Ground Studio (CGS) is a student-organized program for artists at risk in Berlin. The program runs for one academic year: from October 2026 to mid-July 2027.

25.11. - 11.12.2026 Making Art in a Shifting Landscape by Dina Khouri & Salwa Aleryani

#Common Ground community meetings

Meetings with all prospective students from the German language courses, with a focus on Ukrainian and Farsi

  • Community meetings on “How to Study in Farsi”: September 24, 2026 (online), October 17, 2026 (in person) - POSTPONED – New date TBA, November 12, 2026 (online) – more information to follow
  • Next community meeting in Ukrainian: October 21, 18:00 at the Fine Arts factulty at Udk, meeting point: the garden or the glass door before the garden in case it rains (Hardenbergstraße, 33)

EXCURSIONS

If you would like to participate in excursions, please send us a brief message to artisttraining-ziw@udk-berlin.de
If possible, please let us know which course or subject area you are interested in at the respective art school.

 

# Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, November 7, 10am-6pm

  • Program: open day of the filmuniversity / Q&A with students, more info coming soon
  • Meeting point 10:00am, main entrance
    Marlene-Dietrich-Allee 11
    14482 Potsdam


# weißensee kunsthochschule berlin – November 24, 2026, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

  • Program: Campus-Tour with Susan Lipp (Academic advisor) / visit to the workshops / open Q&A about availably courses and the application process  / if possible, exchange with students and teaching staff
  • Meeting point 10:30am, main entrance
    Bühringstraße 20
    13086 Berlin

 

- - - past excursions - - - 

# Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK) – July 19, 2026, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Meeting point: Hardenbergstr. 33, Garten
    Program: 12:00 Community Meeting / 13:00 Art Tour Hardenbergstr. / 15:00 Meeting for the joint trip to the Medienhaus / 16:00 Art Tour Medienhaus
     

# Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch – July 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

 in cooperation with the Ernst Busch Buddy Program.

  • Meeting point: Zinnowitzer Str 11, foyer
    Program: guided tour through the building, 11:20 meeting with professor Iris Böhm (acting) / 12:00 visit to the movement class / 12:30 visit to the speech training class / 12:40 meeting with students / 13:30 visit to the fencing class

 

CONTACT

artisttraining-ziw@udk-berlin.de

Team

Dr. Melanie Waldheim (Head of project management, Artist Training), Mika Ebbing (project coordination), Yevheniia Perutska, Mahgol Mohammadi (Common Ground), Dr. Mareike Brlecic Layer (Student Advisory Service)

Funding

The project Access Art Schools Berlin in cooperation with the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch is funded from May till December 2026, as well as from April to December 2025 by special funds for participation for refugees, Senate Department Berlin.

Archive from 2025

  • Study Preparation

    Course 1 (B2.1): 02.06. – 01.08.2025
    Course 2 (B2.2): 18.08. – 10.10.2025
    Course 3 (C1): 29.09. – 28.11.2025

    • German courses (B2 – C1)

    • Conversation courses and study skills workshops

    • Get-together and individual study counseling

    Online Workshop: "Introduction to Studying at an Art College in Germany and Berlin" (in English)
    23.06. 10:00 – 12:00 am
    22.09. 10:00 – 12:00 am (together with the International Office)

    Get-Together: Monthly meeting of prospective students and UdK students at risk

    20.06. 17:00 – 19:00 Café Menta, Emser Str. 24, 10719 Berlin

    20.07. 14:00 – 15:30 Hardenbergstr. 33, in the garden/courtyard
    (part of Access Art Schools on Tour @UdK Berlin)

    11.09. 15:00 Hardenbergstr. 33, Room 004

    11.11. 17:30-19:00 Café Nero (Eingang: Bibliothek), Fasanenstr. 88 

    Beyond German (Presentation Techniques)
    Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts

    Day Excursions to the Berlin Art Academies

    09.07. from 10:00 Access Art Schools on Tour @HfS

    20.07. 12:00 – 17:00
    Access Art Schools on Tour @UdK Berlin
    Meeting point: Hardenbergstr. 33, Garden

    Program: 12:00 Community Meeting / 13:00 Art Tour Hardenbergstr. / 14:00 Get-together in the garden / 15:30 Meeting for the joint trip to the Medienhaus / 16:00 Art Tour Medienhaus

    19.11. Access Art Schools on Tour @Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin 

    Meeting point: Bühringstraße 20, 13086 Berlin

    Program: Presentation of the International Office including counselling services for international students with Leoni Adams / A guided tour through the Hochschule / A conversation with Prof. Dr. Ulf Aminde

    20.11. 10:00 - 13:00 Access Art Schools on Tour @Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF

    Program: Presentation of the Film University/artistic degree programs and PrepClass / Presentation of the International Office, including advisory services for international students / Guided tour of the Film University by a student / Discussion with international students

    Meeting point: Marlene-Dietrich-Allee 11, 14482 Potsdam, Main entrance 

    Artist Training Modules

    for Music, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Film

    udk-berlin.de/ziw/artisttrainingregistrierung

    20.08. – 05.09.2025: Building New Horizons: Artistic Empowerment for Artists at Risk – Ruba Adwan
    08.09. – 12.09.2025: Self-Presentation and Networking for Professional Filmmakers at Risk – Natalija Yefimkina & Henner Winckler
    15.09. – 27.09.2025: Basic Tools for a New Start in the Berlin Performing Arts Scene – Maryna Makarenko & Anna Volkland
    02.10. – 28.11.2025: AI Storytelling – Sina Ataeian
    06.10. – 17.10.2025: Building Your Music Life in Berlin: A Practical Guide – Soheil Soheili & Niki Yaghmaee

    Common Ground Community Meetings

    in Ukrainian, Farsi and Arabic
    https://www.instagram.com/commonground.udk/

    Professionalization Training for Employees

    COMMUNICATION

    “Kunsthochschulen tragen Verantwortung, gesellschaftliche Teilhabe zu ermöglichen.”
    – Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert, President UdK Berlin

    “Right now it is especially important that we show Artists at Risk that Berlin's cultural scene not only tolerates them, but wants and needs them.”
    – Dr. Anna Luise Kiss, Rector HfS Ernst Busch Berlin

    Press Release

  • Dr. Melanie Waldheim (Head of project management, Artist Training), Corinna Whyment (German courses), Dr. Mareike Brlecic Layer (co-project management, Study skills) and Alejandra Nieves Camacho + Alice Rugai (professionalization), Sven Dolinski (HfS), Yevheniia Perutska, Mahgol Mohammadi, Dai Solayman (Common Ground).

  • The project Access Art Schools Berlin in cooperation with the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch was funded by special funds for participation for refugees, Senate Department Berlin, from April to December 2025.

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