Budget Cuts Threaten the Work of the Saxon Academy of Arts

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.

Call for Greater Influence on Policy

In Holler’s assessment, the Academy’s potential has not yet been sufficiently harnessed. The institution brings together renowned artists and scholars from various disciplines and is capable of providing expert advice to policymakers and society. “Perhaps many public officials are not aware that they have an asset in us that they could put to good use,” he said.

Despite financial constraints, the Academy intends to remain committed to its core missions. “We agree that there is one thing we cannot and will not do without: standing up for the freedom of the arts,” said Holler.

Academy Celebrates 30th Anniversary

The Saxon Academy of Arts was founded in 1996 to promote the arts, develop proposals for their advancement, and preserve the cultural heritage of the traditional Saxon cultural region. According to its own figures, the institution currently has 184 members. Art historian Holler has been at its helm since 2021. In early July, the Academy will celebrate its 30th anniversary under the motto “How little is enough?”