C/O Berlin

Pictures say more than a thousand words - this is the motto at C/O Berlin, an innovative, modern and international exhibition space devoted to photography. Up to three alternating group and solo exhibitions run simultaneously, featuring both famous artists and emerging talent. Anton Corbijn, Annie Leibovitz, Sebastião Salgado, Martin Parr, Nan Goldin and Peter Lindbergh are just a few examples. Subjects range from Bill Clinton to Kate Moss, East to West, Leica photography to fashion shots. Even the magnetic designer Karl Lagerfeld has held an exhibition here. With C/O Berlin you can be sure of one thing: exhibitions attract public attention. Come and be inspired by affecting photographs and life-size portraits.

The background and character of C/O Berlin

C/O Berlin is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2000 by three passionate photography experts - photographer Stephan Erfurt, designer Marc Naroska and architect Ingo Pott. An important part of their concept is to create a forum for visual education, going beyond the exhibition of photography to discuss, explain and disseminate it. Since 2006, they have supported young photographers and art critics with their annual international talent competition. C/O Berlin is now located at America House, the culture and information centre for America during the Interbau building exhibition in the late 1950s. Its rooms are flooded with light, thanks to its large windows. Notice that the structure of the original building is only partially visible, a quirk that creates a fittingly rough charm. The exhibition rooms are mostly kept in the minimalist style of the 1950s. The focus is instead on the photographs themselves: artistic renderings of film stars, supermodels and politicians. Besides evocative portraits, you'll find snapshots of political events, some of social significance, some entertaining. Unique motifs and creative compositions grab your attention. But the exhibitions are not the whole picture. A thrilling array of lectures, panel discussions and artists' seminars let you delve deeper into the detail. You can also meet other photographers at the café in C/O Berlin, which is purposefully designed to promote collaboration.

What to expect

• exhibitions by world-famous photographers
• exhibitions by up-and-coming talent
• a café with changing art works
• presentations, artist talks and panel discussions with experts
• a small bookshop with in-house publications e.g. by Lore Krüger or Peter Lindbergh

Other photography highlights in the vicinity of C/O Berlin

In Berlin you can easily devote an entire day to photography. Directly next to C/O Berlin is the Museum of Photography. Its large space is occupied by regularly changing exhibitions. The Helmut Newton Foundation is located in the same building. It is devoted to the work of famous fashion and portrait photographers. Just a short walk away, Import Projects is dedicated to the technological revolution. Here, emerging and established artists show critical and groundbreaking work, providing novel insights into today's digital age. Just a five minute walk away is the small Galerie Springer Berlin, which is dedicated to international art photography. Another gallery in the immediate vicinity is the Wichtendahl Galerie. Founded by art historian Cornelia Wichtendahl, it is dedicated to emerging painting, photography and sculpture. The gallery Camera Work, on nearby Kantstraße, presents the most important artists in the history of photography, such as Diane Arbus and Irving Penn, but also offers a platform for contemporary work. The Kennedys Museum on Mitte's Auguststraße is also managed by Camera Work. It is dedicated to the Kennedy family, and showcases a variety of photographs, film and documents.

Tips for visitors to C/O Berlin

You can reach C/O Berlin by train, underground or bus. It is located directly at Zoologischer Garten train station, where the U2, U9, S5. S75 and S7 lines stop. If you arrive by car, the Zoo Car Park is available to you 24 hours a day. With the Berlin WelcomeCard you get a 25% discount on admission. For children and young people up to the age of 18, admission is free, as C/O Berlin is committed to introducing children to photography. Guided tours are available for an extra charge on Saturdays and Sundays, though you are not required to register in advance. Every first Thursday of the month, the curators of C/O Berlin, the Helmut Newton Foundation and the Art Library Photography Collection offer group tours, with the emphasis on dialogue and creative exchange. If you wish to engage more actively with photography, take advantage of the workshops on offer.