Cultural funding: Art and culture as a lifeline and critical infrastructure

importance of art and culture in our society is a recurring topic of public debate. Most recently, tensions ran high during the lockdowns of the Corona pandemic , when many cultural workers feared for their very survival.

Even after the Covid pandemic and its restrictions, the challenges for artists and cultural workers remain immense. Increased costs, disrupted networks, shifting priorities in large parts of society, and ongoing multi-crises wherever you look.

The budget freeze resulting from the failed supplementary budget of the federal government for 2021 also does not bode well for cultural funding in the coming years.

The German Cultural Council states: Art and culture are essential infrastructure

Art and culture play an important role in society; the German Cultural Council clearly stated its position on this in 2010 (see Art and Culture as the Lifeline: Statement of the German Cultural Council on Cultural Funding ) regarding the financing of cultural life in Germany.

Art and culture reflect societal discussions , offer space for engaging with reality , and transcend everyday life. Art and culture are an expression of human life.

Engaging with them refers to the past and the handling of traditional values, but also has a future-oriented aspect in that it includes visions of a future society.

The debates within society are clearly reflected in its approach to art and culture. Art and culture are assigned a prominent role in societal development.

In a multi-ethnic society, art, culture and cultural education increasingly important in promoting integration and highlighting the positive elements of cultural diversity.

These processes are often grouped together under the term “change through culture”

Protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions

Germany's second state report on the "Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions" was submitted to UNESCO . According to the report, since 2012, the federal government, states, municipalities, and civil society have implemented a wide range of innovative and effective measures to promote the diversity of cultural expressions in Germany. These efforts clearly demonstrate the commitment of all stakeholders to this important cause (see Diversity in Germany's arts and culture scene expanded ).

Professor Dr. Verena Metze-Mangold , the then- President of the German UNESCO Commission , emphasized the importance of promoting cultural diversity for a democratic society. She explained that diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and that in times of advancing globalization, the right to participate in shaping society must be upheld.

Especially in Germany, we have a rich array of publicly funded cultural institutions as well as top-class international cultural offerings. In addition to these institutions, citizen initiatives also contribute to ensuring that children and young people, as well as people with low incomes, have access to art and culture – access they would otherwise often lack. She emphasized:

It is important to continue supporting and expanding this diverse commitment to promoting different forms of cultural expression.”

Unfortunately, we currently have no figures to confirm this positive trend over the past few years since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic. However, it is feared that services in this area could be reduced due to the challenging economic climate.

UNESCO continues to proclaim undeterred: Culture Counts .

This message serves as a guiding principle throughout the organization's entire cultural program. Protecting and preserving cultural heritage, maintaining and promoting cultural diversity, and fostering dialogue between cultures are among its main objectives.

UNESCO is the only organization in the United Nations system with a mandate in the cultural field.

Art from a purely economic perspective: Cuts with serious consequences

Art, culture, and cultural education play a crucial role in everyone's life. Cultural education opens up new horizons and provides opportunities to engage with art. It is an important factor in individual creativity and artistic expression.

Although art, culture and cultural education are of great importance to every individual and to society as a whole, these areas are repeatedly affected by budget cuts .

Often, their support is viewed purely from a financial perspective, and they are seen merely as recipients of public funds.

This overlooks the fact that supporting art, culture, and cultural education is not about subsidies, but rather about investing in the future . In light of the anticipated budget cuts by the states to comply with the debt brake, as well as the financial difficulties of municipalities, the German Cultural Council, in its statement, calls for measures to safeguard cultural infrastructure at the federal, state, and municipal levels .

It is important to recognize that such safeguards are necessary to ensure sustainable access to arts and culture offerings.

The German Cultural Council reinforces its position: Culture is part of the critical infrastructure

The German Cultural Council demands that culture, in accordance with current practice, be included as critical infrastructure in the list of “particularly important institutions” and “important institutions” in the KRITIS umbrella law and defined accordingly.

This would ensure that culture continues to be treated as critical infrastructure and that the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) remains responsible for the cultural sector by providing relevant information or undertaking advisory tasks.

Furthermore, the German Cultural Council demands that the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, in consultation with other ministries, determine which infrastructures and facilities should be considered critical, and that the Commissioner for Culture and Media should also be involved.

The complete press release from the German Cultural Council can be found here: Culture is part of the critical infrastructure.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de

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