Berlin's creative sector launches rally against arts funding cuts

Cuts to project funding would represent 'the death of Berlin culture', say activists

By AFP

Published: Wed 13 Nov 2024, 5:17 PM

Berlin's creative sector workers launched a colourful protest on Wednesday against planned cuts to cultural funding they fear will pull the rug from under the city's famed clubs, theatres and orchestras.

Several hundred activists, one wearing a plucked turkey costume, gathered under grey skies outside the German capital's iconic Brandenburg Gate.

They warned against a "radical" 10-percent cut in support for the arts from next year in the city-state of Berlin, where venues are already battling fast-rising rental costs.

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Berlin's Club Commission, which represents the city's famed techno party hubs, said almost half of all clubs are considering shutting up shop in the coming 12 months as they face rising rents and falling visitor numbers.

Artists and cultural workers wear masks as they attend a rally to protest against budget cuts in the culture sector, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Wednesday. REUTERS

The group urged "an immediate stop to the planned cuts in the cultural budget" to save the scene.

Classical musicians and theatre folk have also leant their support to the movement.

In a letter signed by conductors Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle and Joana Mallwitz, among others, the artists called on the city not to "undermine" the cultural sector.

A "minimal investment" in the arts produced a "maximum benefit" for the city's image, they said.

Cuts to project funding would represent "the death of Berlin culture", Muriel Nestler, 56, from Berlin's Costume Collective told AFP at the demonstration.

Nestler — dressed in the turkey costume which is otherwise used on theatre stages — said "infrastructure for the independent cultural scene" could be lost.

For Patricia Roncoroni, 50, more cuts could see arts education offered for children in the city all but "disappear".

The planned savings are "totally unacceptable", said Roncoroni, who is part of the parent-teacher association for Berlin's music schools.

Berlin State Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion Joe Chialo speaks on stage as artists and cultural workers attend a rally to protest against budget cuts in the culture sector, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, on Wednesday. REUTERS

Addressing the rally, Berlin's culture minister Joe Chialo described the cultural sector as Berlin's "heavy industry" but said cuts were necessary to balance the budget.

The conservative CDU party minister's speech was greeted with a smattering of boos from the crowd.

Chialo said the savings needed to be "distributed fairly" between departments but said he wanted cuts to be "manageable for everyone".