The German government is supporting the relaunch of cultural life in Germany with an extensive rescue and future support package. "We are focusing on a relaunch and a new start," declared Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Monika Grütters, following the adoption of the programme by the Cabinet.
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The German government is providing around one billion euros for the NEUSTART KULTUR programme. The goal is to crank up cultural life, which has been severely restricted by the coronavirus pandemic, thus creating new employment opportunities for artists as swiftly as possible.
"To this end we must preserve cultural locations and venues. And that is precisely the focus of the economic recovery programme NEUSTART KULTUR that the Cabinet has today adopted," continued Monika Grütters, Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. "We want to provide assistance, help cover the additional needs of facilities and projects, and foster alternatives, particularly digital activities." With the programme and other assistance packages worth billions of euros, the German government is making a contribution that is unrivalled at international level, she underscored.
The programme earmarks funding for the following measures in particular:
Today the Cabinet also adopted the government’s draft for a second supplementary budget for 2020, which includes the funding for the NEUSTART KULTUR programme. The two houses of the German parliament, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat should approve the supplementary budget at the start of July, after which the programme will start immediately.
The new programme, and the assistance already provided by federal and state governments and by local authorities must now be met by "creative opening strategies and concrete steps to reopen" said Monika Grütters.
Book shops and museums, memorial sties and galleries are already able to reopen, and they are to be followed by other facilities. "Culture is not a luxury that we can only afford when times are good," stressed Monika Grütters. In times of crisis more than ever, they contribute to active diversity and vibrant democracy.