6 Undeniable Traits that Make Berlin Incredibly Attractive for Writers and Artists
Are you feeling a little numb and uninspired for a longer period of time?
Does it ever feel lonely, because you are the only one of your peers who decided to pursue something that doesn't involve climbing up the corporate ladder?
Do you ever ask yourself if it is actually worth it?
You are not alone. And you most definitely shouldn't give up. But maybe you should consider changing your circle or environment.
A little disclaimer — I don’t have a magic wand and a spell for you. And I am not implying that only by packing your bags and landing in a different city, the quality of your writing or art will skyrocket.
But I am convinced that our environment can break us or (re)make us. And that is what Berlin did to me.
If you are considering a bigger life change and a move to a different country, the following are the traits I would look for in a place where writers (or artists in general) can thrive.
#1 A place that makes you feel like you can make it as an artist
Landing in Berlin in 2020, my timing couldn’t have been worse. A city of parties and art went completely silent for over 1.5 years (with some lucky breaks in between). Despite I could feel the artsy vibes everywhere. You just need to swipe Tinder to get an idea. Every second person is a DJ, writer or part-time painter. This can make you and your little writer’s heart sing because you don’t feel alone. Suddenly it feels more doable to build a different life than to sprint in the corporate hamster wheel until you burn out.
Berlin is a city of decadence and no “kiez” (=quarter) is the same. You can walk around and find everything from the Second World War bunkers, and hidden gems of street art to huge interactive installations and the patchwork buildings rebuilt after the war that will give your mind a spin just by looking at them.
You will not only get your daily dose of inspiration just by walking around, but you can also meet wildly interesting people and find your tribe.
#2 High quality of life and affordability
Coming from Eastern Europe and having lived in Italy and Spain for some time, I can genuinely say, Berlin is one of the most affordable cities in Europe. You can get more bang for the buck here than anywhere else. Berlin has a unique advantage of lying at the intersection of the “east” with its affordable prices and the “west” with its quality of life. Most of the latter has to do with the social democracy system — the taxes are quite high, but in turn, you have a lot of opportunities to get financial support to change a career, become self-employed, or study again. And that can come in handy if you want to start an unconventional career that might not be super-profitable from Day 1.
#3 The city in perpetual construction
When you arrive in Berlin, you will probably wonder what’s up with all the construction sites at every corner. This can be quite annoying, especially if you are a beauty lover. You will get neither a romantic view of a castle as in Prague, nor the Dutch colorful house architecture and a sunset over the canal. At first sight, Berlin might seem ugly, to some people even dangerous, because of the graffiti literally on every building. I had the same feeling after my first visit.
In many respects, Berlin feels like coffee. It starts to taste good once you get used to it — it is an acquired taste. In time, you will see the raw character of the city as the very reason it gave rise to so many artists.
I talked to a friend the other day and he said something that stuck with me. “You know, Berlin, is not for everyone. It is for the people who want to live in a place that is still growing and changing. That way, they can have an impact on how the city evolves and make it their own. Their home, eventually.”
I guess that is why Berlin religiously attracts an international crowd of artists and entrepreneurs alike. It is a city for builders.
#4 The greenery and the lakes
The big city life is overwhelming. Sometimes you want to pack your stuff and hide from email notifications in a place, where the only repeating sound are singing birds. In Berlin, you don’t have to go far. There are around 3,000 lakes in the surrounding area, which is mind-blowing to me. On top of that, there are huge parks in the city that offer a quick rescue when your mind needs an immediate break.
I love to walk and run — that’s when the great ideas pop up. So I am happy I can disappear into a “small forest” every day to recharge my batteries and get some creative rest.
#5 The diversity
Berlin is one of the LGBTQIA+ capitals of Europe. People are accepted as they are and everybody is very open-minded and respectful (especially in the workplace). No wonder given the long history of queer community here. You can stroll the streets of Schöneberg and see places where the first activists fought for gay rights in 1890s, which paid off and helped a vibrant queer scene to emerge and peak till 1920s.
Besides, there is a massive Turkish (and Arabic) community that has been growing from 1960s. As a result, you can get lost in Kreuzberg and Neukölln quarters and taste top-notch Middle Eastern cuisine and feel like in little Istanbul for one evening.
#6 Booming start-up scene
The melting pot of cultures made the emergence of a thriving start-up and tech scene almost inevitable. It is said that a new start-up is funded in Berlin every 20 minutes and if you don’t know at least one start-up founder, you are not living in Berlin. The start-up capital flowing to Berlin and a mix of cultures created a perfect environment for expats to move in. You can easily get by finding a job speaking English and have a great quality of life.
However, I think it is more fun to learn German. Don’t get me wrong, I know the language is crazy with all its declinations and other grammar rules. But you would never get to know the real German culture without speaking the language. If you fall in love with the city and plan to stay long-term, it is worth trying. Plus, I guarantee you will want to show your TELC certificate everywhere once you are done. Because damn it, you will drop some sweat and tears on the way. Learning German is a test of character and resilience.
