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Presscouncil City of Chemnitz
Pressrelease: 747

City Council stabilises funding for the independent cultural scene

In 2017/2018, five per cent of the city of Chemnitz's cultural budget will go towards promoting independent culture

At its meeting today, Chemnitz City Council decided to spend an additional €133,300 a year on funding for independent cultural organisations. The cultural committee will decide on the use of the funds in detail following preliminary consultation with the cultural advisory board. The city council's decision is subject to the adoption of the 2017/2018 budget law by the Saxon state parliament.

The draft of the 2017/2018 Saxon double budget provides for an increase of two million euros in funding in accordance with Section 6 of the Saxon Cultural Areas Act. For the city of Chemnitz, this increase means additional revenue of 266,600 euros. These additional cultural area funds are allocated 50% each (133,300 euros) in the budget of the municipal theatres and in the budget of the cultural enterprise. In future, the cultural enterprise's share is to be used to promote cultural institutions and measures in Chemnitz.

The budget of the City of Chemnitz will not be burdened by the increase in the funding budget, as the subsidy increase for the independent cultural scene is fully covered by the additional funds from the Free State of Saxony.

Today's decision is based on a resolution passed by Chemnitz City Council in 2015 (BA-054/2015), according to which the city administration was instructed to allocate at least five per cent of the city of Chemnitz's cultural budget to independent cultural organisations from 2017 onwards. Thanks to the additional income from the cultural area funds, the cultural organisation will be able to fulfil this mandate from the city council in 2017 and 2018. From 2019 onwards, a new decision must be made based on the future development of the budget. The aim of the previous and most recent decision is to give cultural institutions and organisations more planning security for their work.

The independent cultural scene is an important pillar of Chemnitz's understanding of culture. It provides the freedom to discover new things, develop an artistic profile and enjoy the joy of life.