Germany's cultural policy balance sheet 2014
The German Cultural Council takes stock of 2014 for culture at federal level and looks ahead to the challenges facing federal cultural policy in the coming year. There has been more money, but obstacles are creating too few culture-friendly laws.
On the plus side, the Cultural Council of our northern neighbors sees, among other things, the stabilization of the artists' social security contribution rate, the European citizens' initiative against the planned free trade agreements TTIP and CETA and the increase in investment funds for culture in Germany of 280 million euros.
The European Union's free trade agreement with Canada (CETA) has already been negotiated, writes the Cultural Council. Canada has rightly excluded the cultural and media sector from the agreement in the text of the contract to protect its cultural diversity. In contrast, the EU Commission, with the acquiescence of the German government, has not included a corresponding comprehensive exemption clause for the European cultural and media sector in the text of the agreement.
In its outlook for 2015, the Cultural Council sees challenges arising from digitalization, for example. This is changing the production, distribution and reception of culture. A digital agenda for the cultural sector should therefore not be limited to the digitization of cultural assets, but must keep an eye on the changes in the entire sector.
More info: www.kulturrat.de
