The cultural scene is particularly suffering from the corona crisis. Minister of Culture Grütters now promises funding to prevent “club death”.
No parties and concerts for months – what is only regrettable for party people has brought many clubs into real need. Minister of Culture Monika Grütters has now reacted to the diverse protest campaigns with which clubs and discotheques have expressed their concerns.
“In the coming week, the German Bundestag will adopt the one billion euro economic stimulus program ‘Neustart Kultur’. This alone includes 150 million euros for the predominantly private music culture,” announced the CDU politician in an interview with the editorial network Germany. Part of the funds will be available for clubs that offer live performances.
Industry protests like “Night of Light”
In the past weeks and months, the cultural scene had drawn attention to itself with petitions and demonstrations, and partly raised funds from guests and supporters through fundraisers.
Last week, for example, organizers in many German cities illuminated their buildings in red during the “Night of Light” campaign to indicate the precarious situation.
Grüttes expressed understanding of the clubs that had been “hard hit” by the Corona crisis: “They were the first to close and they are unlikely to be able to open until very late.” The federal government had to react “to prevent club death”.
Grütters: Countries should also contribute to preservation
In addition to the millions, event venues could apply for “pandemic-related investments” and benefit from bridging aid from the Federal Ministry of Economics.
Grütters also made the federal states responsible for making a contribution to maintaining club culture. Clubs and cultural institutions are not only “tourist and economic important for our cities, but they are an important characteristic of our cultural landscape in Germany,” she said.
Pamela Schobeß, the chairwoman of the Berlin branch association “Club Commission”, welcomed the announcement. She told the newspapers: “If the funding programs come as they are announced, it will be a huge step in the right direction and a chance to survive.”
