Overview

• The Berlin Senate has announced an 11.6% cut to the cultural budget for 2025, amounting to a reduction of approximately €130 million.
• Cultural institutions, including the Konzerthaus Berlin and Berliner Philharmoniker, warn that the cuts will disproportionately impact innovative and experimental programs, as well as freelance artists.
• The Konzerthaus Berlin has already canceled its February 2025 'Projections' festival due to the budget shortfall, highlighting the immediate effects of the reductions.
• Critics argue that the cuts will damage Berlin's unique cultural landscape, which employs 8.2% of the city's workforce, significantly higher than the national average of 2.9%.
• Cultural leaders and creators are calling for collective action to resist the cuts, with some proposing strikes and other forms of protest to emphasize the sector's value.