The Art Newspaper

Government in Germany increases cultural spending

By Christine Hoffmann | Web only
Published online 7 Jan 09

FRANKFURT. The federal cultural budget of Germany has been increased—the fourth time in a row—by 3.5%, reaching €1.14bn in 2009. “This is an excellent result for culture,” said the minister for culture, Bernd Neumann. Since he took office in autumn 2005 the federal cultural budget has increased by more than 20%. Among the projects and institutions that will benefit from the increase is the Jewish museum in Berlin, receiving €6m for an extension, while €15m are set aside for a reunification and freedom memorial in the capital. The lion’s share of all cultural expenses in Germany, however, is paid by the federal states and communes, adding up to around €7bn a year.

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