Un/gleich/zeitig: Culture/Budget – Between Societal Responsibility and (Missing) Resources

The independent performing arts community reacts quickly and flexibly to the most diverse development but is now facing a tremendous challenge, amongst many other challenges: the cultural sector is stagnating between additional needs and a spending freeze. Contracts that have been concluded for 2025 are endangered and contract acquisition is at a standstill. Instead of conducting artistic work, days of action and campaigns are being organized, budgets are being pored over and resumes are being updated for emergencies. The existence of Berlin’s cultural landscape and the people who work within it is at extreme risk. At the same time, the expectations for culture to promote societal cohesion and to strengthen Berlin’s cultural economy are growing – clearly disproportionally with regard to the resources that have been provided.

Over the course of this panel discussion, the board of the Berliner Kulturkonferenz and experts will discuss how the (independent) arts can meet this (cultural) policy demand more effectively in the future, the extent to which it can take on this role and which measures are necessary on the part of the politicians in order to effectively safeguard art and culture.

In German spoken language.

With Wibke Behrens (berufsverband bildender künstler und künstlerinnen – bbk berlin, Berlin Cultural Conference), Janina Benduski (LAFT Berlin – Landesverband freie darstellende Künste Berlin e.V., Berlin Cultural Conference), Franziska Stoff (Landesmusikrat Berlin, Berlin Cultural Conference), Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow (Member of the State Parliament, SPD Spokesperson for Culture and Media) and Dr. Robbin Juhnke (Member of the State Parliament, CDU Spokesperson for Culture).

Conceived in cooperation with the Cultural Policy Society Berlin-Brandenburg and the speakers Cerstin Gerecht, Moritz von Rappard, Sarah Zalfen, and Wibke Behrens.