The Saxon Academy of Arts sees its work increasingly threatened by the strained financial situation. Academy President Wolfgang Holler warns that the institution will no longer be able to fulfill its statutory duties if further cuts are made. “We are not a private event, nor are we merely a decorative addition—we are an institution. It is too important to be knowingly allowed to go under,” Holler said in an interview with the *Sächsische Zeitung*.
Very Little Money Left for Projects
In the current two-year budget, the Academy’s budget has been cut to 493,700 euros. Due to rising costs, only 28,000 euros remain available for actual program work this year. The majority of the budget is needed for personnel, rent, and electricity.
If the austerity measures continue, the Academy will no longer be able to fulfill its mission, Holler said. These include, among other things, promoting the arts, developing future-oriented projects, advising the Free State, and participating in social debates. Building bridges with Central and Eastern European countries is also part of its statutory mandate.
