The surprising turn in the Federal Culture Budget 2025: Facts on the current debate

The Federal Cultural Household shows a surprising development in 2025.  Despite the continuing difficult economic framework, the cultural budget grows by more than 50 million euros and reaches a total of 2.25 billion euros.

In fact, the current draft budget of the Minister of Culture has a small growth compared to the draft of the previous government.  In this context, the urgent need to invest in cultural buildings and to renovate them is particularly emphasized. This means that the federal government remains a reliable partner for the cultural and media landscape in Germany.

What changes in the Federal Culture Budget 2025

Despite the tense financial situation, the second government draft for the Federal Budget 2025 shows remarkable developments for the cultural sector.  The federal culture budget increases to around 2.2 billion euros, which is a slight increase compared to the previous year's draft.  Some sources even speak of an increase to 2.25 billion euros, which corresponds to growth of more than 50 million euros.

However, these funds are spread unevenly to different cultural areas. On the one hand, cultural film funding significantly increased by 11.3 million euros from 2025, whereby the formal growth is even over 18 million euros.  However, this also includes the funds for the movie promotion of 7 million euros, which were previously located elsewhere in the household.

Prussian cultural property foundation receives another 17 million euros compared to the previous plans. This should strengthen the operation of the foundation, especially in times of high cost increases.  Additional funds of 25 million euros are planned for the German wave

On the other hand, there are also significant cuts: funding in the Federal Cultural Fund should be halved in order to comply with the debt brake.  The "Alliance of International Production Houses" , the funds of five million euros are to be completely eliminated.  This contradicts the coalition agreement, in which the Federal Cultural Fund was called "innovation driver", which should be "expanded".

The federal government also supports the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz with a total of 25 million euros, of which 10 million euros will flow in the coming year.  Furthermore, the work of the memorials is to be strengthened and the construction of the German-Polish House should be advanced with one million euros.

A special focus of the draft budget is on investments in cultural buildings.  More than 50 million euros in addition are planned for construction projects.

Cultural and media policy focus

The cultural policy focuses in the Federal budget 2025 show a clear direction for the future development of the German cultural landscape.  cultural building offensive , for which a growth of over 50 million euros is planned,  is particularly striking Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer emphasizes in a press release from the German Culture Council on July 9th that "cultural buildings belong to our identity as a cultural nation" and "directly contribute to the radiance and strengthening of Germany" .

The specific projects include the Museum Island in Berlin , the German-Polish House and the redesign of Nazi memorials in Dachau , Ravensbrück and Sachsenhausen.  In addition, the renovation of the Paulskirche , the Festspielhaus in Bayreut H and Friedenstein Castle in Gotha are funded.  The federal government provides up to 55 million euros for the latter.

In the area of ​​film funding, the budget records considerable growth.  Cultural film funding is increased by 11.3 million euros. At the same time, the federal government continues the reform process for modernized film funding.  The new Filmförderungsgesetz provides for fully automatic production and rental funding , which is to save annual bureaucracy costs of 1.5 million euros.

An additional 25 million euros are planned for the German wave compared to financial planning.  The DW Academy , as the Center for International Media Development, receives a project funding for EUR 37.75 million and works in 60 developing and emerging countries.

culture of remembrance is also strengthened.  The memorial work is supported in accordance with the coalition agreement, whereby the development of the German-Polish House is funded with one million euros.  This is done at a time when, according to studies, anti-Semitic and historical revisionist attitudes have increased-38.1% of the voices surveyed to the demand for a "final line" for the Nazi era.

In addition, the cultural pass 2025 continue and the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz supports a total of 25 million euros, of which 10 million euros will flow in the coming year.

Criticism, debates and next steps

Despite the increase in the Federal Cultural Household to 2.25 billion euros, there are numerous critical voices on the current development.  Although the German Culture Council welcomes the slight growth compared to the budget draft of the previous government, the question of whether the funds for cultural buildings should come from the federal government's billion -dollar investment package or from the Minister of Culture's own budget.

A particularly controversial topic is the digital levy planned by Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer for important internet companies such as Google and Meta .  According to the Austrian model, platform operators with billions of billions are to pay a tax rate of 10 percent.  This delivery is referred to as the "platform soli" and is intended to apply to platforms that use media content.  However, there is obviously still considerable need for coordination within the federal government.  The Culture Council emphasizes that such a tax should primarily benefit the cultural content supplier and not the state budget.

There are also concerns about the social situation of artists.  Although the cultural expenditure has increased significantly, many artists still earn too little if public funding is carried out.  The Cultural Council therefore calls for quick negotiations on basic fees with the countries.

Before the start of budget consultations in the Bundestag, an alliance of social associations, environmental organizations and unions called for the coalition for investments in the social and ecological area.  The constant reduction debates in essential areas such as inclusion, education or social housing are fatal.

The AfD criticizes the black and red budget draft and describes the planned debt mountain as "not without alternative".  At the same time, the Saxon Minister Klepsch warns against playing facilities against each other, and does not see any scope for further reductions without closing facilities.

The second government draft for the Federal Budget 2025 is subject to the parliamentary budgetary work .  The decision about the budget is to be made after the parliamentary summer break in September.

Conclusion

In summary, the Federal Culture Budget 2025 shows remarkable development despite economic challenges. The increase to 2.25 billion euros underlines the importance of cultural support for the federal government. The focus on cultural buildings, film funding and the support of the German wave is particularly important. However, there are still fields of tension between different cultural areas.

The unequal distribution of funds raises questions. While some areas experience significant increases, other sensitive cuts must accept. This discrepancy partly contradicts the coalition agreement and therefore causes criticism from the cultural industry. In addition, the social situation of many artists remains precarious.

However, the planned digital tax for large internet companies could be a new source of financing in the future, but also requires further coordination within the government. At the same time, the strong promotion of cultural buildings should contribute to strengthening cultural infrastructure in the long term.

Ultimately, it will only be shown after the parliamentary consultations in September which aspects of the budget draft will actually be implemented. However, the debate illustrates that, despite all austerity measures, culture remains a central part of German identity. The coming months will be crucial for how Germany preserves and promotes its cultural diversity in economically challenging times.