Greens: Cultural cuts endanger diversity in the Free State

Saxony's Greens have sharply criticized the planned cuts in the area of culture in the draft for the 2025/2026 double budget. "Who is supposed to buy the state government's promises in the face of these severe cuts?" said Claudia Maicher, the Greens' spokesperson for cultural policy. Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had said as recently as February that it would not be possible to consolidate the budget with cultural cuts. Now his government is presenting a draft in which cultural funding is to be cut by 38 million euros over two years.

According to Maicher, the independent cultural scene and offerings in rural areas are particularly affected. "The fact that Culture Minister Klepsch is still talking about reliable funding that would preserve structures and diversity is bitter." For the independent cultural scene and rural areas in particular, this is pure wishful thinking, while enemies of democracy are pushing into social voids throughout the state.

Cuts hit projects with a social impact

According to the Greens, the state government is planning significant savings at the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony, among other things. In 2026, the foundation will have around 20 percent less funding available for project funding than in 2024 - this corresponds to around 633,000 euros. Program funding is set to fall by 45 percent or 880,000 euros. Guest performance funding is particularly affected, with a drop of 70 percent.

According to the Greens, the "Filmland Sachsen" project of the Saxony Film Association, which has so far been successful in rural areas, is also to be completely discontinued. The cultural education network offices in the cultural areas would have to expect cuts of around 700,000 euros or 44 percent. In addition, the cultural areas would lack more than six million euros in investment funds for equipment and infrastructure.

Greens announce resistance

The Greens say they will not allow "the minority coalition of CDU and SPD to endanger cultural diversity across the board".