Cultural devastation in the East: This endangers our democracy

Nobel Prize winner for literature Heinrich Böll summed up the special value of culture in his characteristically succinct way: "Where culture dies, barbarism begins." This assessment may be viewed as rather simplistic, but it is not an exaggeration. For wherever anti-democratic systems gain ground, they turn their backs on creative artists, actors, and writers. Culture then follows the rulers and no longer follows the free spirit. It is astonishing how much fear creativity can arouse in government, how much fear there is that the spark of free thought could spread to the population.

Cuts are being made particularly in the East

Conversely, one could say that culture certainly has the power to strengthen democracy by raising questions, creating new spaces for thought, and promoting urgently needed discourse. It is therefore all the more surprising how much state institutions in this country are cutting cultural spending, especially in eastern Germany .

We still have fresh images of the demonstrations against the Senate's budget cuts in Berlin, a city that boasts a particularly strong focus on theater, opera, and exhibitions. To put it more specifically: What appeal would the capital still have with such a severely decimated cultural scene? Berlin's cultural sector faces cuts of around 130 million euros for 2025 , roughly twelve percent of the cultural budget. Institutions affected include the Komische Oper, Volksbühne, Deutsches Theater, many museums—and even the Berlinale, where funding will be halved.

In Saxony, the draft budget for 2025/26 envisages a reduction in cultural spending of approximately 38 million euros, which could lead to significant cuts in subsidies for theaters and orchestras.

Theater representatives and cultural workers have therefore vehemently protested in front of the state parliament in Dresden under the slogan "Without us, it will be dark." Looking around northern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Neubrandenburg/Neustrelitz Theater and Orchestra Society will be short approximately seven million euros by 2028, which corresponds to an annual funding shortfall of approximately 1.5–2 million euros. Existing funds are no longer sufficient due to inflation-related cost and wage increases. The 2018 Theater Pact, which provides for an annual 2.5 percent increase in subsidies, is not enough to cover the increased costs. Nevertheless, the state government has at least signaled its fundamental willingness to provide security for theaters if necessary.

In Saxony-Anhalt, project funding for the independent arts scene was reduced from €960,000 to €735,000. The state government is also considering further cuts.

In Thuringia, where a shaky three-party coalition of the CDU, BSW, and SPD forms the government, the cultural budget for 2025 was cut by approximately 3.5 million euros for the first time in ten years. The Thuringian Palaces & Gardens Foundation is losing approximately two million euros. Investment funds for theaters, museums, and provenance research are declining significantly, with the renovation budget falling from five million to around 2.2 million euros; funding for museums has also been reduced. Only in Brandenburg have no proposals for cultural cuts been announced so far, but these could still come.

Less culture – increase in loneliness

What the media has barely mentioned publicly so far is the impending decline of the so-called off-scene, cultural venues far removed from established venues, that experiment and lack a lobby. Who will speak out for them? Who will advocate for them? Because this sector in particular engages culture-loving people who are often not professional performers but would like to actively participate in the scene.

And another rarely mentioned but very decisive clear-cutting has been happening for years in the "land", that is, in the villages and regions of eastern Germany. Here, there were traditional cultural centers until shortly after reunification. Of course, the local party also used to meet here and hold its meetings. Far more important, however, were dance afternoons and evenings, discussion forums and exhibitions, or simply opportunities to meet people. If you drive through the eastern states now, you often, far too often, see closed Johannes R. Becher sites; you see the decay because no one feels responsible anymore and there is a lack of municipal funds for subsidies. And if you then speak to residents of small towns, they shrug their shoulders in resignation and occasionally mention growing loneliness. They don't like to talk about being alone - certainly, it's a taboo subject - but it is a mega-topic of the present .

So, if government funding increasingly neglects the cultural sector, it's letting people down, and with it a vibrant democracy. Because where something gives way, something new always emerges. The AfD has spread, especially in eastern municipalities; it's now the caregiver and contact person for many people. The established parties are understaffed in entire regions. They're losing people who simply no longer have any interest in politics.

Where do the tax money go?

If we now ask ourselves why cuts are being made to the fundamental sector of culture, the answer is simply not: there is a massive lack of tax revenue. After all, tax revenues are high; we now have to work for the state for almost half the month, and only then do we work for our own paychecks. It is astonishing the indifference with which this theft of hard-earned money is accepted. Companies are taxed unnecessarily heavily. They are outsourcing jobs abroad. The state has enough, it has a lot of money. But far too few people take a closer look at the spending: billions of euros, well over half the budget, are spent almost uncritically on social services and military expenditures. On whom? For what?

The vitally important sector of culture can act with public impact. And in many places in East Germany, this has been done. But more rebellion, more courage, more action is needed to avert the impending devastation. It may soon be too late.