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Mannheim (dpa) - Mannheim's outgoing night mayor Hendrik Meier wants to continue to campaign for night culture and secure its existence even in times of corona.
"We have to make it more stable and crisis-proof," said Meier, who two and a half years ago started as the first "Night Mayor" in a German city.
Night culture must first be viewed as an important location factor.
“Young people just go where something is going,” added the 29-year-old, who is leaving office at the end of the year.
He has now found a new field of activity in the VibeLab.
This is a consulting agency for municipalities that want to whip up their night culture.
The night scene is currently groaning under lockdown.
The clubs in particular are suffering from the Corona crisis.
Night culture has not been taking place for months, and those involved - from cleaning staff to musicians - are in dire straits.
Some businesses, for example in Mannheim's Jungbusch nightlife district, have converted their rooms into plate, vegetable or clothing stores and sold packages with their own products.
"It's not really economical," said Meier.
The federal program Neustart Kultur and the bridging allowances are helpful.
The country's support for art and cultural institutions at risk was a first step, but not enough.
Too little money arrives at the clubs.
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But the municipalities also have to consider what the night culture is worth to them.
The city of Mannheim helped night culture with 220,000 euros, including, for example, 130,000 euros that were earmarked for the - then unusual - city festival.
The square city is exemplary, said Meier.
"The direction is clear and Mannheim is well on the way to getting out of the crisis without losing a cultural institution due to the pandemic."
The concept of the night mayor not only met with approval in Mannheim, but also all over the world.
In countries like India and Japan, local authorities are interested in culture that attracts young people at night.
"Night culture is losing the aura of the exotic everywhere," said Meier.
Other cities in Germany such as Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Munich and Osnabrück are also considering the use of a night mayor.
After a few months in tandem with his successor Robert Gaa, Meier will leave the position entirely to him from January.
His trademark was the cooperation with representatives of authorities and restaurateurs, the mediation of conflicting forces in the nightlife and residential area Jungbusch.
The graduate of the Pop Academy had set up a monthly round table with the police and the public order office on current issues.
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Meier prevailed against 40 competitors in summer 2018.
His successor will be tasked with providing public space as a replacement for club culture and cultural life in the pandemic, said Meier.
Readings, theater and concerts should also be possible for artists who do not or no longer have a central house.
Information about open-air nightlife
VibeLAb