Cultural Budget Debate: Barbara Klepsch Sees No More Wiggle Room for Savings
Heated discussion over budget - Klepsch perceives no more rooms for cost reduction - Council Proposals Already Submitted by the Commission
Barbara Klepsch, the Cultural Minister of Germany's Free State, has categorically stated that the cultural budget has been stretched to its limit. In her conversation with the German Press Agency, she made it clear that any further cuts would lead to the inevitable closure of institutions.
She emphasized the need to avoid pitting cultural institutions against each other and highlighted the importance of preserving Saxony's unique cultural landscape, even amidst the numerous challenges.
No Room for Slashing Music Schools' Budgets
In the face of an unprecedented financial crisis, Klepsch's department has struggled to cut expenditure, especially in the cultural sector. Despite the daunting task at hand, she made it clear that the cultural space funds, totaling 104 million euros in 2025 and 2026, remained untouched, ensuring planning stability for the regional institutions. The music schools are also secure with a budget of 7.87 million euros, forming the foundation for Saxony's rich musical heritage.
Saxony's Cultural Funding at the Municipal Level
Cultural funding in Saxony's municipalities primarily comes from the unique cultural space law in Germany. The eight cultural spaces independently decide on the funding of institutions and projects. The Free State supports the municipalities in financing culture, with the cultural spaces levying a surcharge.
No Change in Cultural Pact Funding for 2024
The controversial cultural pact funds, amounting to 8.76 million euros in the draft budget, remain unchanged from 2024. This allocation aims to balance salary scale disparities between various institutions. Despite escalating operating, personnel, and material costs, nine houses received an additional five million euros in 2023 and 2024. Regrettably, this respite package seems to be absent in the upcoming budget.
Tightening the Purse Strings
The subsidy for the memorial foundation has been reduced to 90% for this year only, before rebounding to 100% in 2026 when "the foundation's development concept implies a significant increase in personnel." The state cultural associations are facing cuts of 5 to 15%, hampering their ability to support numerous projects.
Defending her Position Amidst the Critics
Klepsch has rebuffed accusations of frivolous spending, emphasizing that no across-the-board cuts have been made. Even state-owned enterprises have felt the pinch with a freeze on both personnel and material costs in the budget. This means no new positions will be filled, and all project positions remain vacant.
In light of the harsh budget debates, she advises everyone to put their rosy expectations aside, citing the reform budget for 2025/2026 as a transition period. With a positive outlook for the economy and increased tax revenues, she believes the situation will improve post-2026.
[1] As of June 2025, Barbara Klepsch's stance on potential savings in the cultural budget for Saxony suggests a constrained outlook for budgetary adjustments and efficiencies in the cultural sector.[2] Recent developments include Minister Klepsch securing funding for cultural projects such as the Sachsenburg concentration camp memorial, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to support cultural initiatives amidst budgetary constraints.
- In the face of budgetary constraints, Barbara Klepsch's department is adamant about avoiding cuts in the music schools' budget, maintaining a base for Saxony's rich musical heritage.
- The ongoing challenge in the cultural sector prompted by the financial crisis has led to a tightening of the purse strings, with state cultural associations experiencing cuts and no new positions being filled in the budget, according to Minister Klepsch.
