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Düsseldorf / Wuppertal (dpa / lnw) - In an open letter to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), the culture secretariats in North Rhine-Westphalia have called for a rescue package for culture.
The cultural sector will be particularly hard hit by the pandemic-related restrictions, they write in the letter published on Thursday.
The future of many cultural workers is "more than uncertain, their livelihoods are threatened" as a result of the closings.
Around 100 cities belong to the NRW cultural secretariats as institutions for municipal cultural promotion.
The federal government, states and municipalities should put a rescue package over the culture, which ensures that the relief measures established in the pandemic would be continued for at least another five years, it said.
A differentiated approach to the reopening of cultural institutions is just as important.
Extracurricular educational opportunities should also be strengthened.
The federal and state aid programs, which were set up quickly and unbureaucratically this year, are "a considerable support" for culture.
However, it is to be feared that culture will be sacrificed in the course of future austerity measures.
“Culture is much more than just spending free time.
It is an essential element of our democracy and therefore particularly worthy of protection. "
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In the meantime, the NRW Ministry of Culture announced that it would use the cultural strengthening fund to support not only the municipal theaters but also the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus and the dance theater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, which are largely state-run houses.
The 7.3 million euros that have now been made available should help the facilities to resolve corona-related liquidity bottlenecks and to resume rehearsals and games in the future.
The funds are part of the state government's art and culture strengthening package of 185 million euros launched during the pandemic.
"It is our clear goal to stabilize the structures of art and culture in North Rhine-Westphalia despite the pandemic," said NRW Minister of Culture Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen (non-party).
Theaters and orchestras usually have a planning lead of one to three years.
"You had to change course for months and will face major challenges in 2021."
In addition to the permanent ensembles and employees behind the scenes, the existence of many guest artists depends on the large cultural institutions in terms of direction, choreography, music and dramaturgy.
Press release Ministry of Culture