Berlin Museums Condemn Arts Budget Cuts - ArtDog Istanbul

Berlin Museums Condemn Arts Budget Cuts

Berlin's leading art institutions have united against proposed 13% funding cuts, warning they threaten cultural accessibility, democracy, and the city's vibrant art scene.

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Four leading contemporary art institutions in Berlin have strongly criticized the city Senate’s plan to slash arts funding by 13%—equivalent to around €130 million ($136 million)—in 2025. The proposed cuts threaten the city’s vibrant art scene, with serious long-term consequences for museums, artists, and cultural accessibility.

The Schinkel Pavillon, a contemporary art space renowned for showcasing innovative artists such as Anna Uddenberg and Mire Lee, announced it could lose 50% of its funding and may even face permanent closure. On Thursday, other institutions—including KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, the n.b.k., and the nGbK—joined in condemning the decision.

In a joint statement, they warned that the cuts could dismantle critical infrastructure, reduce additional funding from state and federal levels, and trigger a “domino effect” of cultural decline. “This will lead to a long-term impoverishment of cultural offerings in the city and further restrict access to culture regardless of income,” they said.

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The institutions stressed the broader impact of cultural funding, stating, “Cuts weaken democracy. Culture is education, active enlightenment, and living diversity. It strengthens social cohesion, counters xenophobia, and drives economic growth. Every euro invested in culture is reinvested into the city through trades, services, and tourism.”

Critics argue the cuts are disproportionate, as arts funding accounts for just over 2% of Berlin’s city budget. The Berlin Museums Association called the reductions a “painful burden,” particularly for smaller, underfunded institutions, and predicted layoffs and reduced programming.

Berlin’s culture senator, Joe Chialo, also condemned the plan, describing the cuts as “very drastic and brutal.” He pledged to seek alternative solutions to preserve the city’s cultural landscape.

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