Overview

• Sarah Wedl-Wilson, a seasoned cultural manager, has been officially nominated as Berlin's new Culture Senator by Mayor Kai Wegner.
• She succeeds Joe Chialo, who resigned on May 2, citing challenges posed by severe budget cuts in the cultural sector.
• Wedl-Wilson holds British and Austrian citizenships, making her the first Berlin senator without a German passport.
• Berlin's 2025 budget includes a €130 million reduction in cultural funding, nearly 12% of the sector's budget, sparking criticism and protests.
• Wedl-Wilson, formerly the rector of the Berlin Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, will assume office on May 22 to address these challenges.