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Berlin’s New Culture Senator Distances Herself from Predecessor over Deep Funding Cuts

She pledges new lines of communication with cultural stakeholders to ease tensions from the Senate’s budget reductions.

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Overview

  • Sarah Wedl-Wilson was sworn in as Berlin’s Culture Senator on May 22 after serving as Culture State Secretary under Joe Chialo.
  • Wedl-Wilson told Spiegel there was “no real collaboration” with her predecessor and emphasized their differing views on cooperation with the cultural sector.
  • The Berlin Senate’s austerity plan slashed the 2025 cultural budget and schedules further cuts for 2026 and 2027.
  • Artists and institutions held loud protests against the reductions, criticizing a lack of consultation and transparency.
  • Wedl-Wilson says all stakeholders must share the burden of fiscal consolidation and she will rebuild trust through sustained dialogue.