Experts see Saxon cultural landscape at risk

The Saxon Cultural Senate sees cultural offerings in the Free State under threat due to financial bottlenecks. "The Saxon cultural landscape is in danger. We therefore need a clear commitment from the state parliament and state government to ensure that art and culture continue to benefit as many people as possible throughout Saxony," explained Albrecht Koch, President of the Cultural Senate in Dresden. The Free State must develop sensible solutions with local authorities, cultural areas and state-owned companies to achieve the best possible results with fewer financial resources.

Senate calls for better funding for the Cultural Areas Act

The Cultural Senate presented its second report on the state's Cultural Areas Act to the President of the State Parliament, Alexander Dierks. In it, the Senate calls for, among other things, better funding for the Cultural Areas Act, greater consideration of rural areas and a bundling of the state's funding tasks. In a second part, the Cultural Senate outlines perspectives on how art and culture can be preserved across the board in a country undergoing economic and demographic change.

The statement reads: "Only a permanent, continuous increase in public funding will ensure that institutions are not repeatedly brought to the brink of their existence." The funds for theaters and orchestras that have so far flowed through the cultural pact must be made permanent and integrated into the financial volume of the law. This is the only way to ensure that culture is maintained in all parts of Saxony. At the same time, priorities must be set.

Cultural areas decide for themselves how to use the funds

Saxony finances culture in the municipalities primarily via the Cultural Areas Act. This stipulates that the three independent cities of Chemnitz, Dresden and Leipzig each form an urban cultural area. There are also five rural cultural areas. The funding of institutions and projects is decided independently in these areas. The state supports the local authorities in financing culture with around 105 million euros per year. The cultural areas levy a contribution to finance their share.

The Saxon Cultural Senate is an honorary body with 24 representatives of art and culture in the Free State. They are appointed by the Minister President. The task of the Cultural Senate is to advise on the funding policy of the state and local authorities for art and culture and to formulate recommendations for content and regional priorities. It also comments on fundamental cultural policy issues. Every four years, it reports to the state parliament on the implementation of the Cultural Areas Act.