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Freedom – and political support
The aim of the third cultural policy conference for the state of Berlin is to initiate a broad discussion on how art and culture in Berlin should be promoted, protected and further developed in the future.
The freedom of art and culture is under threat
The freedom of art enshrined in the Constitution is an achievement that resulted from the experience with the suppression of art and culture under National Socialism. At that time, art was brought into line, regulated and misused for propaganda and warfare. Free, independent art was suppressed – its destruction was a component of dictatorship and barbarism. This historical experience highlights the importance of artistic freedom as enshrined in the Constitutional Law today: as protection against state influence on content. The ‘free’ art market harbours dangers. It transforms art and culture into objects of speculation. Market laws can develop censorship mechanisms that represent subtle – but effective – forms of influence.
Gotthard Krupp und Britta Schubert
ver.di Arbeitsgruppe Kunst und Kultur – Berlin/Brandenburg
As early as 1971, the Artists' Congress in Frankfurt's Paulskirche stated: ‘Freedom of art and artists can only be said to exist when the economic independence and social security of artists is guaranteed, free from the influence of any clients.’ The task of enabling this economic independence – without influencing content – lies with the state.
Art and culture are part of public services. The state creates the framework within which art and culture can flourish. However, the content is the responsibility of artists and cultural creators in dialogue with society. We are observing with concern a development that is leading to a state-determined orientation of art and culture. Funding is increasingly tied to content definitions, political commitments or specific purposes. A process of redefining art and culture is beginning – away from artistic freedom and towards purposefulness. Art is becoming an instrument of raison d'état.
The current situation
The Berlin Senate's austerity policy is posing an acute threat to the diversity of Berlin's art and cultural landscape. At the same time, we are witnessing a redefinition of art and culture: independent scenes, independent projects and critical voices are under pressure, while a state-controlled ‘event culture’ is coming to the fore as a means of self-expression and self-affirmation for the state. The drastic cuts affecting all areas of society – whether in healthcare, education or social services – are also having a massive impact on the cultural sector. These cuts are no coincidence and must also be seen in the context of a political culture war waged by the right. Progressive projects, cultural diversity, social openness and solidarity-based thinking are coming under increasing pressure. Added to this is the increasing militarisation of society and ongoing crisis and war policies. In this climate, art is increasingly being reduced to its usefulness as a vehicle for political content – instead of being understood as a free, critical and diverse space. All of this fundamentally calls into question the freedom of art and culture.
Our basic demands
This analysis gives rise to key demands that are to be discussed, specified and politically refined at the conference:
1. Anchoring art and culture as a national objective in constitutional law – with a legal obligation for funding by the federal government, the states and local authorities. Influencing content must be prohibited and punishable by law.
2. A cultural promotion law that guarantees legally anchored, transparent and objectively justified funding instead of arbitrary, charitable support – with a legal entitlement.
3. Preservation of the Artists' Social Security Fund (KSK) as indispensable social security for self-employed artists and cultural workers.
4. Basic fees for self-employed persons – based on public sector collective agreements – as a binding standard, financed by the public sector.
5. Collective agreements in all cultural institutions, based on TVöD or TV-L, to ensure fair and stable working conditions.
6. Preservation and expansion of venues where art and culture can develop – especially those that are independently run, independent and non-commercial.
7. No privatisation of existing cultural venues – public culture must not become a plaything for investors' interests.
8. Expansion of democratic structures in the cultural sector – art and culture need a say, participation and open spaces for discussion in society. Let us not leave cultural policy to austerity plans, markets or authoritarian tendencies.
Let us take a different direction together – for a free, solidarity-based and diverse cultural landscape in Berlin
(Discussion paper for the cultural policy conference of ver.di Berlin-Brandenburg in November 2025)