Sustainable Nightlife: Berlin Meets NYC

As part of the TECHNO WORLDS exhibition, the conference Sustainable Nightlife: Berlin Meets NYC brought together political, economic, and artistic practitioners from Germany and the U.S. to discuss the future of club culture. The conference took place on September 14, 2022, at the Goethe-Institut New York.

As part of the TECHNO WORLDS exhibition, the conference Sustainable Nightlife: Berlin Meets NYC was convened to address some of the challenges that affect today’s club scene and cultural economy in both cities: What is happening in NYC and Berlin regarding sustainability in nightlife? What are the first steps to more sustainability, and what would it need to make (more) sustainability happen in nightlife? What solutions, models and best practices do already exist and can inspire? In a transatlantic conversation, practitioners and representatives from political and cultural initiatives came together to discuss urgent issues surrounding the future of techno culture, nightlife, and beyond.
 
The event opened with presentations on best practices for sustainability in nightlife. Katrine Gregersen from BUND Berlin e.V. introduced the project "Clubtopia,” followed by DJ and producer Eli Goldstein who gave insights into the the network "DJs for Climate Action," and Tim Janßen, Co-Founder of Cradle-to-Cradle NGO, presenting the organization’s educational and networking practices:
 

The conference continued with an engaging panel discussion, moderated by Kae Burke, Founder & CD, House of Yes, on first steps and visions towards a sustainable future of nightlife:
 

Panelists: Lauren Sullivan, Founder & Co-Executive Director, REVERB; Tyler Myers, Director, Knockdown Center; Ariel Palitz, Senior Executive Director of NYC’s Office of Nightlife at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment; Lutz Leichsenring, Spokesman of Clubcommission Berlin & Partner at VibeLab; Marie von der Heydt, Senior Policy & Program Officer for Music, Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Berlin; Paul Miller, DJ Spooky.

The event was a cooperation of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology with the Goethe-Institut, NYCEDC, NYC Office of Nightlife at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Clubcommission Berlin, Clubtopia, Urban Innovation and Berlin Business Office NYC.