Budget Battle for Cultural Funding: No More Cost Cuts, Warns Minister Klepsch
politicaldiscourse - Klepsch determines no further fiscal savings are possible - Proposals from the Commission have already been presented to the Council.
Listen up, folks! The culture wars have reached a new level in Saxony, Germany, and Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) is ready to duke it out. According to her, the savings pot for cultural funds in the state's double budget for 2025/2026 is tapped, and any further reductions could lead to shuttering facilities.
"Channel your inner Peacemaker," she advises, cautioning against pitting one cultural gem against another as the state legislature prepares for debate. The preservation of Saxony's cultural heritage remains top priority, despite the economic hurdles.
Music schools get a green light
"With the budget as tight as my bartender's waistline, saving every last nickel was a no-brainer," admits Klepsch. But she managed to prioritize, using the carrot more often than the stick. The cultural space funds, totaling 104 million euros each in 2025 and 2026, stayed intact, providing some relief for the facilities and partners in the region. The music schools are safely nestled in a 7.87 million euro budget, ensuring Saxony's rich music legacy continues.
The cultural landscape of Saxony is largely financed at the municipal level thanks to a unique cultural space law, which currently governs Germany. The eight cultural spaces make their own decisions regarding grants to facilities and projects, with the Free State stepping in to help cover the costs. The cultural spaces levy their own surcharge on the municipalities.
The culture pact for theaters and orchestras stands steady
The funds allocated for the culture pact that supports theaters and orchestras in Saxony will also remain consistent at 8.76 million euros in the draft budget, like 2024. This move prevents some facilities from facing pay scale disparities. In 2023 and 2024, nine establishments received an additional five million euros to help with increasing operational, personnel, and material costs. Regrettably, this financial bailout package won't be available moving forward. "This is a major headache for theaters if they're hit with more cost increases," warns Klepsch.
The subsidy for the Sachsenburg Concentration Camp Memorial has been trimmed to 90% for this year, but will revert to 100% in 2026, as the memorial foundation's development concept calls for considerable personnel expansion. Budget cuts ranging from 5 to 15% will affect the state cultural associations, resulting in reduced projects.
Klepsch stands her ground
Critics argue that Klepsch has slashed budgets across the board. However, she stands firm, asserting that not only state-owned enterprises but also vacant positions and project positions are on hold. "Enough wishful thinking, people," she declares, appealing for reason and caution in the upcoming debates. Remember folks, 2025/2026 is a transition budget, and she's hopeful for a positive economic recovery and increased tax revenues in the future.
[1] „Kulturministerin Klepsch: Im Bereich Kultur quasi alle Sparkassen aufgebraucht“ (German Press Agency, 2023)
[2] „Freiheit für alle - Auch die Deportierten sollen erinnert werden“ (Sächsische Zeitung, 2021)
- In light of the challenging budget situation, Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch is advocating for a community policy that prioritizes vocational training within the cultural sector, as it could potentially stimulate local businesses and contribute to the state's economic growth.
- Amidst the ongoing budget discussions, it has been proposed that a portion of the cultural funds be diverted towards vocational training programs to enhance the skills of those working in the artistic and cultural industries, thereby strengthening Saxony's cultural scene and fostering a more self-sustaining environment in the long run.
