After our project was cut by the Ministry of Culture and Science at the beginning of December, we gathered with supporters and others from the independent art scene on December 17, 2024. We danced, shouted and sang together!
It was a very empowering experience for us to stand there together with other cultural actors and be loud not only for Cheers for Fears, but also against the cuts to the independent scene as a whole. After all, it is not only Cheers for Fears that is affected by the current cuts, but also iDAS NRW, the blicke filmfestival and the internationale tanzmesse nrw, among others. Special thanks go to Grumpy Bear and maiskind for their support with this intervention!
The NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste has published a statement on the current situation in which the problems of these cuts are well depicted.
The numbers suggested that, as in the previous year, the budget item in which the independent performing arts are anchored would remain stable and that the cuts of 5.5 million euros would only affect the so-called strengthening initiative. But now, shortly before the end of the year, we learn that some projects in the theater & dance scene will no longer be funded by the state from 2025. Projects that have been receiving funding for many years and are now experiencing the end of funding at a time when it is virtually impossible to raise alternative funds for the coming year. We are observing these current developments with great concern. It is still “only” individual projects that have been announced as being cut. However, as these cancellations are being made without any recognizable system or public communication, they are extremely unsettling for the entire scene.
NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste
© studio pramudiya/ npi
Further protests at the cultural committee meeting on 16.01.2025
On 16.01.2025, we called on people to join together in front of the NRW Landtag to take to the streets against the cuts. We gathered in front of and inside the cultural committee meeting (“Landtag” in Düsseldorf). We were supported by numerous artists and speakers, and others.
© Sebastian Wolf