Tight budget: Dresden's culture to save millions

Dresden's municipal cultural institutions are to save 4.76 million euros each next year and the year after. The contributions to the German Hygiene Museum Foundation and the European Center for the Arts Hellerau will also be affected. They will have to make cuts of 665,000 euros and 600,000 euros respectively compared to this year. Funding will also be lost due to a lack of own funds. For Hellerau, this means "only four instead of ten months of performance operations", Mayor of Culture Annekatrin Klepsch (Left Party) told the German Press Agency.

The German Hygiene Museum Foundation warned of the cuts on Tuesday. As it is jointly financed by the city and the Free State, it spoke of a cut totaling 1.33 million euros per year and a "threatening imbalance" and impending loss of reputation.

Theaters and the independent scene also affected

For the State Operetta - Germany's only independent operetta theater - 400,000 euros less than in 2023 are planned, for the nationally renowned tjg. theater Junge Generation 300,000 euros, for the libraries a minus of 400.000 euros for libraries and a shortfall of 785,000 euros in funding for the independent scene.

"The key question is whether local authorities can restructure such a tight budget of 2.4 billion euros by taking more than four million euros away from culture, or whether this will destroy established structures and trust," said Klepsch. Like education and sport, cultural funding is part of public services of general interest for all generations and for a peaceful urban society.

The cultural institutions have long known that they have to make a contribution to consolidating the budget despite inflation and increased costs for fees and services and are doing so by making savings and renting out premises. In 2023 it was five percent and in 2024 there is a 20 percent freeze on material costs.
"We have increased admission prices and fees in all facilities this year." However, this is only justifiable and sensible to a limited extent with regard to visitors and users.

Klepsch calls for cultural infrastructure to be maintained

According to Klepsch, cultural institutions are operating with the handbrake on. However, orchestras, theaters and museums have long-term contracts for several years in advance and are also clients for the regional economy, such as trades and service providers. "In times of crisis, we need a continuation of the 2024 subsidy budget in order to at least maintain the cultural infrastructure," demanded Klepsch. Also so that Dresden can continue to compete with its broad cultural heritage.