Was uns verbindet - Eine Debatte über den Wert von Kultur und ihre Finanzierung

In the organizer's words:

A debate on the value of culture and its funding
Initiated and curated by #MünchenIstKultur

The role of culture is enshrined in Article 140 of the Bavarian state constitution: "Bavaria is a cultural state. Art and science, research and teaching are free. The state protects and promotes cultural diversity." However, even in the state capital of Munich, the appropriate appreciation and funding of culture is in danger.

Although a large majority of the population is in favor of state funding, the value of culture is increasingly controversial and is repeatedly questioned by representatives from politics and the media. At the same time, right-wing populist forces are trying to narrow the concept of culture.

In November 2024, a broad alliance of Munich artists and cultural institutions formed for the first time with #MünchenistKultur.
On May 10, 2025, we would like to discuss the role of culture in society as a whole and the extent to which cultural offerings are important for democratic coexistence with prominent guests.

Using Munich as an example, we are looking for constructive answers: What can a meaningful long-term cultural policy look like in times of tight budgets? How can the dialog between artists and cultural institutions, politics and administration succeed? How can resources be better utilized? What transformations are needed? Where does the money for a task for society as a whole come from? How can cultural offerings for a diverse urban society be guaranteed in the future?

With
Holger Bergmann (Managing Director of the Fonds Darstellende Künste)
Carsten Brosda (President of the German Stage Association),
Beatrix Burkhardt (Cultural Policy Spokesperson for the CSU City Council Group)
Marie Burneleit (City Councillor, The Party)
Barbara Mundel (Artistic Director)
Julian Nida-Rümelin (former Minister of State for Culture, author and philosopher)
Jovana Reisinger (author, filmmaker and visual artist)
Florian Roth (City Councillor, The Greens)
Julia Schönfeld-Knor (Spokesperson of the Culture Committee, SPD)
Julian Warner (Artistic Director of the Brecht Festival)

Moderation: Antje Allroggen (Deutschland Funk, cultural journalist)