#BerlinIsCulture - prevent culture cuts
In light of the announced cuts to Berlin's budget, Berlin's diverse cultural scene has jointly launched the #BerlinIsCulture campaign. The campaign kicked off with a day of action on 16 October 2024, with a variety of protest actions taking place throughout the day in Berlin's cultural institutions, at independent venues and throughout the city. On 13 November 2024, cultural professionals and the public came together for a large demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
On 19 November, Berlin's cultural scene demonstrated its diversity with the event »Berlin ist Kultur - das Konzert« at Haus der Berliner Festspiele. We were part of the programme with an excerpt from »In C«. The concert can still be watched in the RBB media centre, as can the discussion in the rbb24 special.
The campaign will run until the final budget decisions are made in November 2024.
In an open letter from the Bühnenverein Berlin, Berlin's opera houses, concert halls, orchestras, choirs and state ballet also call on Berlin politicians not to apply the planned budget savings targets to the cultural sector. The cultural sector currently accounts for 2.1% of Berlin's total budget - a small investment that generates maximum image benefits for the city of Berlin. Cuts in culture - the city's most important unique selling point - will drastically reduce Berlin's image. It cannot be in the interests of those politically responsible to reduce the quality of life in the metropolis of Berlin by making significant cuts in the cultural sector.
