Saxony's culture is on the upswing in the first year after the Corona pandemic. "In some areas, we are already approaching 2019 again," Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) told the German Press Agency. The first half of the year and especially the figures for July 2023 clearly showed an upward trend. For example, she said, the Semperoper Dresden had an audience occupancy rate of 88 percent in the first half of the year, compared with 93 percent in 2019. "That makes us optimistic and shows that culture is being accepted again." And the Leipzig Bach Festival had more than 70,000 visitors than in previous years, from 56 countries - "a new international record and a good sign for tourism, too."
But it's not a no-brainer, Klepsch said. "It takes a constant effort to attract audiences, with institutions also having to adapt to changing visitor behavior." Bookings are being made at very short notice, she said, and subscriptions are fewer. "Some cultural institutions are also struggling because of this." There, a lack of skilled workers and increased costs also played a role.
