Karlsruhe on cultural alert: activists fight against cuts!

Karlsruhe on cultural alert: activists fight against cuts!

On Wednesday morning there was a lot of activity on the market square in Karlsruhe: two activists from the “Resistance Collective” group quickly chained themselves to the “Flying Santa Claus” high wire with a bicycle. This action, which caused quite a stir, was directed against the planned cuts in culture and local public transport in the city. Loud SWR The police cordoned off the market square during the action to ensure the safety of those involved and passers-by.

The activists hung a banner that underscored the urgency of their message: Culture in Karlsruhe is on the brink. Over the next two years, city officials plan to cut funding for culture by 8.7 percent, which poses a massive threat to the independent cultural scene. Culture Mayor Albert Käuflein (CDU) expressed his incomprehension of the activists' actions.

The importance of the independent cultural scene

The independent cultural institutions in Karlsruhe are affected by the planned cuts. The website reports that the existence of around ten facilities could be threatened goes stillkarlsruhe.de. In Karlsruhe, around 400,000 people visit these institutions every year, but they only receive 3.8 percent of the city's cultural budget totaling 63.1 million euros. The first priority of the cultural budget goes mainly to three large institutions: State Theater, ZKM and VHS, while the cultural ring only receives 1.6 million euros.

The proposed 10 percent cut would bring a significant 160,000 euros less for the independent scene, which not only endangers financial stability, but also curtails cultural diversity and democratic participation in Karlsruhe. Some of the affected institutions, such as KOHI and the Sandkorn Theater, make an indispensable contribution to the cultural city and now face an uncertain future.

Cities as cultural actors

The city of Karlsruhe is facing a challenge: at least 80 million euros must be saved in the next two years. This not only unsettles the cultural landscape, but could also affect social interaction. The cultural institutions themselves are calling for the planned cuts to be canceled and for funding to be distributed fairly. The loss is described as priceless for society and the institutions are calling for support of the campaign.

At a protest last Saturday, around 400 people showed their solidarity with the independent cultural scene and sent a strong signal against the city's austerity plans. The activists are calling on the city administration to reconsider its decision and instead advocate for the importance of cultural diversity. A proposal to support the cultural ring with 1.3 million euros more is also being discussed in order not to further endanger the existing cultural landscape.

The local council in Karlsruhe now has to decide on the austerity measures by the end of the year. Time is running out and the voices from the cultural and social scene are becoming louder and louder. What will happen next with culture in Karlsruhe remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: there is a lot at stake.