Berlin's cutting-edge student art can be found at the UdK Rundgang exhibition
The Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK) is set to host its annual student exhibition, the Rundgang – Tage der offenen Tür, from July 18-20, 2025. This significant event in the UdK calendar serves as an open house, showcasing a diverse range of student projects across multiple disciplines[1][3].
Nine of the 23 venues at UdK will open their doors for the exhibition, including the Faculty of Fine Arts (Bildende Kunst), the Faculty of Design (Gestaltung), the Faculty of Music (Musik), the Faculty of Performing Arts (Darstellende Kunst), the Interfaculty Center of Dance Berlin (Hochschulübergreifendes Zentrum Tanz Berlin), the Jazz-Institute Berlin, and the Berlin Career College[1].
The exhibitions will take place in workshops, ateliers, studios, and rehearsal rooms spread across these faculties[1]. Highlights of the event include visual arts such as painting, sculpture, and performance art, design works including design drafts and fashion shows, film screenings, concerts, dance performances, and sound installations. These varied formats will showcase both finished work and the creative processes of the students[1].
The Medienhaus in Schöneberg and the music and performing arts department at UdK on Fasanenstraße will present their students' film and media projects, as well as shows and concerts, respectively[1]. Some students, who have never exhibited their work outside the classroom before, will have the opportunity to showcase their creations[2].
The UdK Rundgang is a citywide event that offers a rare opportunity to encounter never-before-exhibited work from students across various departments. In 2025, the event saw some controversy involving political performances connected to the Palestinian movement, but the majority of students presented standard semester and graduation works[5].
Claudia Assmann, the university's director of press and communications, acknowledged the challenges posed by recent funding cuts at UdK, which have resulted in a hiring freeze and temporary staff replacements[4]. Despite these challenges, the exhibition will not have an overarching curation, allowing visitors to see artists and performers in their raw variety[6].
The event also invites the general public to experience the university as a space for artistic discourse and exchange[1]. One notable alumna discovered at her degree show was Alicja Kwade in 2004[3]. The Medienhaus in Schöneberg is also home to Deniz Şimşek, a former student who won the 2024 German Short Film Award[2].
In summary, the UdK Rundgang is a large, multidisciplinary event that offers a comprehensive view of the university's creative output, with diverse formats across fine arts, design, music, dance, and theater. It serves educational, cultural, and public engagement functions[1][3][5].
[1] Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK). (n.d.). Rundgang 2025. Retrieved from https://rundgang.udk-berlin.de/
[2] Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK). (n.d.). Medienhaus. Retrieved from https://www.udk-berlin.de/medienhaus
[3] Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK). (n.d.). Alumni. Retrieved from https://www.udk-berlin.de/alumni
[4] Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK). (n.d.). Presse. Retrieved from https://www.udk-berlin.de/presse
[5] Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK). (n.d.). Politisch kontrovers. Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/politisch-kontrovers-die-rundgang-der-universitaet-der-kuenste-berlin-ist-umstritten/27013604.html
At the University der Künste Berlin (UdK) annual student exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to see a diverse range of student projects spanning lifestyle (arts, design, music, dance, theater) and education-and-self-development (creative processes, workshops, ateliers, studios, rehearsal rooms). The UdK Rundgang is not only a showcase for finished work, but also serves as a platform for young artists and performers to exhibiting their creations for the first time.
