Over the last 10 years Berlin has become a protagonist for generating contemporary art, boasting the highest concentration of practicing artists in the world. Being residence to 500 galleries with various specialisations and new gallery areas developing around the Heidestraße and Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin can also claim the largest number of galleries, second only to New York. The approximate 5500 artists that populate Berlin are further proof of the vibrancy present in this art capital.

Art "made in Berlin" has a good reputation and holds weight as an important image factor for the international collector. The art fair Artform is a focal event for the industry and takes place annually in autumn. Artform is complemented by other events such as Preview and Kunstsalon during the course of the year. Berlin-based galleries are also internationally active. In addition to numerous individual galleries exhibiting works at various fairs, in 2006 they worked collaboratively presenting works around the world under the slogan "art from Berlin".