Berlin's Cultural Sector Protests Looming Budget Cuts

Prominent figures and institutions unite against proposed reductions in the city's cultural funding.

Actors and cultural figures, including Lars Eidinger and Katharina Thalbach, led a protest at the Brandenburg Gate against potential budget cuts to Berlin's cultural sector.
The demonstration, organized by the #BerlinIstKultur alliance, saw participation from numerous cultural institutions, with police estimating 1,000 attendees.
The Berlin state budget is under review, with the CDU-SPD coalition aiming to cut three billion euros in 2025 and five billion euros in 2026.
Cultural organizations fear funding reductions of up to ten percent, which they warn could lead to insolvency for many institutions.
The coalition's final budget plan is expected to be presented to the public next week after internal discussions conclude.