About Us
Learn more about the team and Kreativ Kultur Berlin.
Our Team
Corinna Scheller (she/her)
Head of the Department for Cultural Funding, Museum and Consultation Service
Since 2018, Corinna Scheller is head of the department for cultural promotion, museum and consultation services at Kulturprojekte Berlin, the initiator and supporter of Kreativ Kultur Berlin. She has overall responsibility for the consultation center and manages all administrative and strategic processes. She is in close contact with the project's sponsors and stakeholders. She creates synergies with other projects for which she is responsible in the areas of consulting and funding within the portfolios of Kulturprojekte Berlin such as the Special Fund of the Federal Government for Cultural Events, Draussenstadt, or the Special Scholarship Program of the State of Berlin.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Ann-Kathrin Rudorf (she/her)
Project Coordination Cultural Funding Consultation Service
Ann-Kathrin Rudorf joined Kreativ Kultur Berlin in 2021 as a consultant at the cultural funding consultation service. The future of the intermediary sector, the promotion of young artists, and the critical examination of working and production conditions are matters which lie close to the heart of the freelance curator, art mediator, and art manager. As early as during her art degree, Ann-Kathrin advised her fellow students on questions of cultural funding and continues to do so. She was also responsible for the International Studio Program of the city of Weimar, worked for the gallery EIGEN+ART in Berlin and got intimately acquainted with the surrounding area of Berlin by managing the municipal gallery of the city of Bernau.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Sabrina Apitz (she/her)
Project Coordination Cultural Funding Consultation Service (on parental leave)
Sabrina Apitz joined Kreativ Kultur Berlin in 2019 as project coordinator for the cultural funding consultation service. Previously, she worked as co-lead of the Performing Arts Program's (PAP) Information, Consulting, and Qualification section, which works to professionalize, structurally strengthen, and improve the perception of the independent performing arts. She has also worked as a freelance project manager, curator and moderator of (inter-)national events - among others for the Berliner Gazette, Wikimedia Deutschland or Transmediale - and lectured at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Maike Wetzel (she/her)
Consultant Cultural Funding Consultation Service
Maike Wetzel has been a consultant at Kreativ Kultur Berlin for the cultural funding consultation service since 2022. Previously, she worked for more than ten years as a fundraiser in the arts and culture sector, acquiring funding at the EU, national and local levels. The range of projects covered almost all disciplines - from transnational music to digital platforms and cross-disciplinary festivals to the restoration of cultural monuments. She understands the applicant's perspective from her own experience, as she also works as a writer, screenwriter and playwright since studying directing at the Munich Film Academy.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Karoline Stegemann (she/her)
Consultant Cultural Funding Consultation Service
Karoline Stegemann has been working as a consultant at Kreativ Kultur Berlin since 2024. As a project initiator, director and actress, Karoline has worked as a practitioner in the performing arts across Germany and is therefore very familiar with the perspective of applicants. As an expert in the acquisition of funding, she has also worked for many years in institutional contexts, most recently at the Staatstheater Augsburg. As a freelance artist, she is primarily concerned with radio play and audio formats in public spaces (2024: Shortlist Hörspielsommer Leipzig). In addition to her work at Kreativ Kultur Berlin, this year she is curating the "wohn_komplex" festival in Halle-Neustadt, which she co-initiated. In 2024, she also founded the association "OST_format", which deals artistically with the consequences of the transformation of East Germany. She studied theater studies in Leipzig and performing arts in Frankfurt am Main and also completed further training as a screenwriter.
We are delighted to welcome Karoline Stegemann as our new colleague! She will be supporting the team of the cultural funding consultation service during Sabrina Apitz's parental leave, focusing on advice in the performing arts, art in public spaces, cultural education as well as urban and interdisciplinary projects.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Maren Wachowski (she/her)
Assistance Cultural Funding Consultation Service
Maren Wachowski has been working as a project assistant for the cultural funding consultation service since November 2023. The cultural science graduates background is in the publishing industry and, after her apprenticeship as a media clerk in digital and print, she gained work experience in marketing and event planning. As an assistant for two music magazines, she acquired various insights into the music industry. Most recently, in her role as a dispatcher at a bookstore, she was responsible for the purchase of new publications. Even though it is no longer her main profession, her enthusiasm for literature - especially fiction - remains.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Melanie Seifart (she/her)
Project Coordination Creative Industries Consultation Service
Hardly anyone knows Berlin's cultural and creative industries better than Melanie Seifart. Before joining Kreativ Kultur Berlin in 2016, she headed the Berlin-Brandenburg regional office of the federal government's Competence Center for Cultural and Creative Industries for three years. At Kreativ Kultur Berlin, she is responsible for the consultation services and events offered by the creative industries consultation service. She studied cultural management. What distinguishes Melanie as a consultant is her diverse work experience. While at the German Society in Berlin she supported numerous projects promoting intercultural education.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Mareike Lemme (she/her)
Consultant Creative Industries Consultation Service
Mareike Lemme knows Berlin's culture right to the edges of the city. She has been working at Kreativ Kultur Berlin since 2019. A qualified architect, she worked for ten years before that as a freelancer at the intersection of urban development, local economic development and cultural management, mainly in the context of publicly funded projects. In her previous position, she co-initiated the networking platform Schöneweide Kreativ and relaunched "Kunst am Spreeknie," a cooperative festival format. Mareike loves working in interdisciplinary teams. That's why she and two partners founded Kola Bora, an office for user-centered urban development. At Kreativ Kultur Berlin she is co-responsible for both the creative industries consultation service and Crowdfunding Berlin.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Dimitra Maragkaki (she/her)
Assistance Creative Industries Consultation Service
Dimitra Maragkaki joined Kreativ Kultur Berlin in August 2022 as a project assistant for the creative industries consultation service. Previously, her professional focus was on the implementation of cultural projects mainly in the field of photography and video. Dimitra studied cultural theory and art history in England and Scotland. Amongst her various professional experiences she adds theoretical perspectives and knowledge to the team.
She worked in different artistic institutions and mentored international artists, learning about their professional challenges and needs. In 2017, she moved from Edinburgh to Berlin as part of the START - Create Cultural Change program. After working as a project manager at Gesellschaft für Humanistische Fotografie e.V., she successfully completed a training program in film production which she focuses on at Kreativ Kultur Berlin.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Iryna Shulikina (she/her)
Contact for Ukraine-related topics
Iryna has been supporting the team since summer 2022 as a project assistant mainly in the context of our consulting, networking and information services for Ukrainian artists and creatives. Prior to this, she completed an internship at Kreativ Kultur Berlin, where she became intensively acquainted with the cultural funding consultation. The communications manager gained further experience in marketing and funding consultation at various agencies and the Federal Association of Visual Artists. Iryna worked as an assistant for the artist MADC and organized events in Berlin, Halle, and Frankfurt (Oder). She studied Culture and History of Central and Eastern Europe in the Master's program at the Viadrina University.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Iryna has been a board member of Vitsche e.V. The association is committed to educational and awareness work, supports Ukrainian artists and creatives, and advances Ukrainian culture in Germany.
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Ірина підтримує команду з літа 2022 року як асистентка проєкту, переважно в рамках наших консультацій, нетворкінгу та інформаційних пропозицій для українських митців та креативних професіоналів. До цього вона інтенсивно працювала зі сферою консультацій в рамках фінансування культурних проєктів під час стажування в Kreativ Kultur Berlin. Як менеджерка із комунікацій здобула додатковий досвід у сфері маркетингу та надання консультацій у роботі при Федеральній асоціації художників Німечинни. Ірина працювала асистентокою художниці MADC та організовувала культурні заходи в Берліні, Галле та Франкфурті (Одер). Наразі вона вивчає культуру та історію Центральної та Східної Європи в магістратурі Університету Віадріна. З початком повномаштабного російського вторгнення в Україну Ірина є членом правління ГО Vitsche, яка займається просвітницькою та адвокаційною роботою, підтримує українських митців та креативних професіоналів та популяризує українську культуру в Німеччині.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Selia Boumessid (she/her)
Events
Selia Boumessid has been event manager at Kreativ Kultur Berlin since 2022. The graduated cultural manager worked for several foundations and NGOs in the last years and gained versatile experiences in the event and communication sector. In addition, she was primarily concerned with the topics of democracy, migration and engagement.
Through her work for Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, Selia is familiar with the information and consulting needs of cultural and creative professionals, and supports the team by creating and implementing online and offline event formats.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Stefanie Friedlhuber (she/her)
Communications and press
Stefanie Friedlhuber is the communications manager at Kreativ Kultur Berlin since 2022 and is responsible for the various communication departments from social media to press. Previously, she was the Online and Social Media Manager for "BERLIN GLOBAL - the Berlin Exhibition at the Humboldt Forum" by Kulturprojekte Berlin. Due to her stays abroad in Mexico and Spain, the studied cultural manager acquired a high level of intercultural skills. She gained experience in project management and communication at various institutions, such as the Goethe Institute in Mexico City and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Jasmin Minchau (she/her)
Junior Event Management
Jasmin Minchau has been working as a junior event manager at Kreativ Kultur Berlin since October 2024. Her affinity for culture unfolded after graduation, when she completed a Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) at the Übersee-Museum Bremen. Jasmin already joined us in 2022 and initially worked as an intern in our Creative Industries Consultation Service team. As a project assistant, she first supported the Kulturprojekte Berlin team of the “Jugendkulturkarte” and then returned to Kreativ Kultur Berlin as a project assistant in the Event and Communications department.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Janine Muckermann (she/her)
Junior Online Project Management
Janine Muckermann has been working as a Junior Online Project Manager at Kulturprojekte Berlin since March 2023. Alongside other teams, she supports us in the online management of our website. Creating accessibility and participation and connecting people have motivated her to work in the cultural sector for a long time. She has worked as a proofreader at Zeit Online, as a press and marketing assistant at KW Institute for Contemporary Art and as a freelance cultural journalist. Janine studied Media Culture Studies and Art History in Cologne and Paris and completed a Master's degree in Critical Studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Furthermore, she has a degree in painting from the Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Vivienne Noda Bautista (she/her)
Controlling
After having been the administrator for the project „BERLIN GLOBAL – the Berlin Exhibition at the Humboldt Forum“ Vivienne Noda Bautista was reappointed as an administrator with Kulturprojekte Berlin in spring 2021, this time for Kreativ Kultur Berlin. She oversees tendering and award procedures, the drafting of contracts and controlling. Previously, she worked for the Jewish Museum Berlin. In addition to her work at Kreativ Kultur Berlin, Vivienne keeps up with the latest book publications on the topics of recent histories, feminism and migration.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Lily Westerwinter (she/they/he)
Voluntary Social Year in Culture
Lily Westerwinter has been completing a Voluntary Social Year in Culture (FSJ Kultur) at Kreativ Kultur Berlin since September 2024, supporting the team in the events sector. For her, an FSJ Kultur represents an exciting opportunity to gain her first experiences in the working world. She is passionate about a wide range of artistic fields, such as dance, literature, and theater. At Kreativ Kultur Berlin, she aims to gain insights into Berlin's cultural and creative scene and use the year as a guide for her future career path.
Foto: © Marcelina Wellmer
Our colleagues from Creative City Berlin
Jens Thomas (he/him)
Editor-in-Chief
Jens Thomas has been editor-in-chief of our community platform, Creative City Berlin, since 2008. As a platform for artists, cultural professionals and creative companies, Creative City Berlin provides information about job openings, projects, spaces, current events, and gives Berlin’s creative minds a platform to present themselves. Previously, the studied sociologist was head of polli-magazin, Germany‘s first medium for both young authors and members of Berlin's parliament. With great passion, he investigates current issues and meets exciting players from various branches and sectors of Berlin's cultural and creative scene. You can read up on their stories in CCB magazine - both digitally and analogously.
Boris Messing (he/him)
Editorial office
Boris Messing either picks up his pen or his guitar. He has been an editor at Creative City Berlin since 2020. On the side, he works as a freelance journalist - for taz and Tagesspiegel among others. The books pile up at his home, and the piles never seem to dwindle.
Daniel Paschen (he/him)
Senior-Onlinemanagement
Daniel Paschen has been Creative City Berlin's online project manager since 2018 and is primarily concerned with the portal’s technical optimization capacities. The focus is not only on implementing new features but also on constantly perfecting the user experience. His interest clearly lies in the realm of technological development. A question central to his efforts is: What does the digital future look like?
We are Kreativ Kultur Berlin
Kreativ Kultur Berlin is Berlin's consultation center for cultural and creative professionals. It is the creative scene’s first point of contact and a central guide to issues pertaining the capital’s funding and financing landscape. Our experienced consultants provide information, advice and networking opportunities across all sectors and industries – supporting everyone from artists to start-ups. Competent, unbureaucratic and free of charge.
In our central position between the independent scene, creative industries and administration, we see ourselves not only as mediators, but also as guarantors and disseminators of first-hand information. Our consultation services include individual and group consultations in which we discuss the funding of projects, professionalization and the development of business models. In addition, we offer expert consultations, info sessions, proposal checks, workshops and much more. At the heart of our digital offering is the Funding Datebase. This database, developed by us, is Germany’s most comprehensive presentation of funding and financing programs for the cultural and creative sector to date.
On our community portal, Creative City Berlin, Berlin's cultural and creative professionals are not only given the opportunity to network with their peers but also to find out more about current cultural events, debates, job openings, spaces and much more.
Alongside Creative City Berlin, Kreativ Kultur Berlin is part of the state-owned Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH and is funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
How it all began
In 2016, Kreativ Kultur Berlin was founded by Kulturprojekte Berlin. At that time, Kulturförderpunkt (since 2013) and Creative City Berlin (since 2008) have already been projects of the state-owned GmbH. Kulturförderpunkt Berlin (Cultural Funding Consultation Services) was intended to enhance Creative City Berlin's online offering with on-site consultation services at Podewil, the company's headquarters. The Creative Industries Consultation Service completed and supplemented the offering in 2016 with the founding of the Consultation Center. From then on, the center did not only provide advice to Berlin’s independent scene on issues of cultural funding, but also to independent creative professionals, start-up projects and existing businesses alike, with topics ranging from professionalization to business model development. In 2016, the platform Crowdfunding Berlin was added to give an overview of Berlin’s crowdfunding and crowdinvesting landscape. Since then, the specialised teams of Kreativ Kultur Berlin have been supporting Berlin’s creative professionals by giving advice, providing information and networking opportunities, under one roof and door to door.
2020 and the Corona Crisis
In 2020, everything changed. Corona put the entire cultural sector on hold. For just that reason we need first-hand support and information: Over the course of the pandemic, Kreativ Kultur Berlin and our community portal, Creative City Berlin, evolved into the cultural scene’s hot spots for providing Covid-19 assistance. KKB tackles questions such as: How do I get through the crisis as a cultural professional? What support services can I take advantage of? How and where do I apply for support?
We provide comprehensive information on Corona aid programs and are the official consulting partner of the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, the Governing Mayor of Berlin and IBB for Emergency Aid IV (Soforthilfe IV). Our motto: Even when our services shift into the digital realm and into crisis mode, we weather the storm!
What's next?
New challenges, new needs, new insights - we are adapting our consultation offering and our online presence! In the summer of 2021, we launched our new joint website, developed a new corporate design, expanded our digital offering and linked the individual offerings more strongly. The websites of Kulturförderpunkt, Kreativwirtschaftsberatung and Crowdfunding Berlin were merged: You can now find all content at a glance and under one roof. The joint Funding Database lists over 400 funding and financing programs for cultural and creative professionals. The newly implemented Resource Center encompasses both long-term knowledge and consulting expertise for you, which is readily available and updated regularly. On Creative City Berlin you will also find exciting editorial articles, job openings, space exhanges and news from Berlin’s cultural and creative scene. Have a look!
And if we don't have an answer, we point you into the right direction.