Senator Wedl-Wilson resists proposed reductions in cultural funding. - Opposing Further Reductions, New Cultural Senator Wedl-Wilson Voices Concerns
Sarah Wedl-Wilson, set to be Berlin's new Culture Senator, is adamant against further budget cuts in the upcoming years, especially in the culture sector. In a chat with RBB's Radio3, she pointed out that this year's budget savings were achieved by dismantling many reserves, but she believes this method is no longer viable.
"We can't do it, we can't take this high amount out of Berlin's culture," Wedl-Wilson declared, comparing the situation to a "Herculean task." To create a brighter future for Berlin's culture, she plans to collaborate with all cultural creators in the city to emphasize the importance of the cultural scene and explore innovative ways to save costs, streamline structures, and generate income.
"Lastly, cut at the art"
Part of this mission involves a Culture Dialogue between the Senate and institutions. Wedl-Wilson suggested ideas such as shared depositories, shared logistics for theaters, joint ticket offices, consolidated payroll accounting, and collaborative services to increase income for cultural houses by renting out their spaces for events.
Privatization is out of the question, Wedl-Wilson reassured. Instead, they are exploring ways for cultural institutions to collaborate in future structures, considering possibilities like a foundation along the lines of the Opera Foundation's successful model.
"It's not about wage dumping or job cuts," Wedl-Wilson clarified. "It's about how we can work better together in a network, either loosely or by joining forces."
Wedl-Wilson will be sworn in as Berlin's Culture Senator on May 22, following the resignation of Joe Chialo last Friday and Mayor Kai Wegner's (CDU) official presentation of her on Monday.
In dealing with Berlin's cultural budget, experts often propose several strategies to streamline structures, generate income, and maintain public ownership. These include maximizing the utilization of public spaces, fostering cross-institutional collaboration, leveraging digital tools, crowdfunding, strengthening public-private partnerships, providing professional development, advocating for flexible funding models, and creating cultural districts.
By pursuing these strategies, Wedl-Wilson aims to keep Berlin's cultural scene thriving without resorting to privatization. Let's hope her initiatives will lay the foundation for a vibrant cultural future in the city!
- Sarah Wedl-Wilson, the soon-to-be Culture Senator of Berlin, focuses on various strategies in her mission to preserve the city's cultural scene, such as maximizing public space utilization, fostering cross-institutional collaboration, and leveraging digital tools.
- Wedl-Wilson's plans for Berlin's cultural institutions also involve the creation of shared depositories, shared logistics for theaters, joint ticket offices, consolidated payroll accounting, and collaborative services to generate income through renting out cultural spaces.
- In contrast to privatization, Wedl-Wilson is exploring ways for cultural institutions to collaborate in future structures, considering a foundation model akin to the Opera Foundation's successful approach.
- Instead of wage dumping or job cuts, Wedl-Wilson emphasizes the importance of network collaboration, whether in a loose arrangement or through consolidated efforts.
