Quo vadis ars?
The situation in the cultural sector has been
described and discussed in numerous interviews, corona diaries,
comments and reports in the past few weeks. Our annotated
collection
of currently 193 sources
gathers voices from different sectors and media.
This creates a picture of the cultural landscape in crisis,
whose temporal transformation can be explored interactively
via a dedicated
tag cloud.
Berliner Künstler: Jetzt gehen sie für mehr Corona-Hilfe auf die Straße
Berlin artists: Now they take to the streets for more Corona help
by Florian Thalmann (08 Aug 2020)
Original source: Berliner Kurier
The artists were the first ones who were not allowed to work any more. They will be the last to return to a normal everyday life. Nevertheless, there is no support for the professional group of self-employed artists. Although an emergency aid of 5,000 € was paid out in Berlin at the beginning of the crisis, since then this professional group has only been able to apply for assistance for current business expenses. Cost of living can only be obtained through the state benefit scheme Hartz IV. With a demonstration on Sunday, August 9, 2020, the Berlin based artists ca lled attention to their situation. They are demanding an existential support that will enable them to overcome the crisis until they can return to a normal life.
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tag Künstler Hilfe Jetzt Demonstration Existenz-Geld Hartz IV All sections Bericht
Durchs Raster gefallen . Kulturschaffende in Coronakrise
Fallen through the cracks . the arts community during Corona crisis
by Sabine Seifert (29 Jul 2020)
Original source: taz
Three months after an initial conversation about her personal situation as an artist during the lockdown, Sabine Seifert meets again with a singer, a visual artist, an actor and a museum educator to talk with them about their experiences during the Corona crisis.
The working conditions for the artists are still all but optimal, as the hygiene rules for all cultural fields of work entail restrictions. Many people appreciate the social network that is provided in Germany. Emergency aid and basic security have helped them to survive the last few months financ ially. However, applications for basic security have only increased by about a quarter. Due to the bad aura of basic security called Hartz IV, many people were reluctant to apply.
Even the applications for solo self-employed persons do not take into account the living and working conditions of artists even after three months. Seifert critically observes that in many federal states the cost of living may not be regarded as operating costs, but also the fact that in the second round applications may only be made by tax or accountants is completely ignoring the reality of small and medium-sized enterprises. Although the profession of an artist is fundamentally associated with uncertainty, the general conditions have currently changed radically. No one can predict with certainty how the pandemic will develop. When again which event format will be possible.
Olaf Zimmermann, Managing Director of the German Cultural Council, points out that the working structures on the cultural market have changed in recent years. Although there are fewer artists, there are more solo self-employed people in the field of cultural education, management and technology. Cultural policy has failed to counteract the precarious structures that have emerged here. Basically, according to Olaf Zimmermann, one should think about whether the classic concept of the entrepreneur still applies to artists and cultural workers - especially since they make an important contribution to society. Read More Read Less
Even the applications for solo self-employed persons do not take into account the living and working conditions of artists even after three months. Seifert critically observes that in many federal states the cost of living may not be regarded as operating costs, but also the fact that in the second round applications may only be made by tax or accountants is completely ignoring the reality of small and medium-sized enterprises. Although the profession of an artist is fundamentally associated with uncertainty, the general conditions have currently changed radically. No one can predict with certainty how the pandemic will develop. When again which event format will be possible.
Olaf Zimmermann, Managing Director of the German Cultural Council, points out that the working structures on the cultural market have changed in recent years. Although there are fewer artists, there are more solo self-employed people in the field of cultural education, management and technology. Cultural policy has failed to counteract the precarious structures that have emerged here. Basically, according to Olaf Zimmermann, one should think about whether the classic concept of the entrepreneur still applies to artists and cultural workers - especially since they make an important contribution to society. Read More Read Less
tag Soforthilfe Grundsicherung Solidarität Verdi bbk Elisabeth Anschütz Sascha Oliver Bauer Ka Bomhardt Wilko Reinhold Olaf Zimmermann All sections Bericht
Der verzögerte Kulturinfarkt . Resilienz des Kulturbetriebs
The delayed culture infarction . Resilience of the cultural sector
by Dieter Haselbach, Pius Knüsel (27 Jul 2020)
Original source: Kulturmanagement
The cultural industry has long been a two-tier society. While the state-financed cultural institutions will come through the crisis with the help of much public funding, the many private institutions and artists will fall victim to the crisis. The public institutions are not innocent of this, as they have used the solo self-employed as an inexhaustible reserve army.
In view of the fact that even before the crisis there was a discussion about the dwindling public in cultural institutions and the loss of significance of museums, the authors are irritated by a contri bution by Tobias J. Knobloch, President of the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft, who urged that public funding be expanded in order to avert the consequences of the crisis for the cultural industry. In this context he also speaks of resilience.
Here it should not be forgotten that the crisis is the great time for cultural associations. They are now trying to get a share of the public funding.Differently it looks with the solo independent ones, which fall by the promotion rasters of the federation and federal state governments for enterprises and come thus over the rounds only with an application for unemployment relief ALG II .
Here the authors come to the crucial point of their article: Many artists do not have a business model that would be sustainable and provides for reserves and a sensible old-age provision. Postponing crisis and old-age provision until later is not a model with a future. Even if the state is currently generous, sustainable business practices must be introduced in the cultural sector.
In their outlook, the authors assume that the large state-financed houses will survive the crisis, and that many solo self-employed and privately financed houses will give up. Cultural tourism will also start again in 2021. The only chance the stakeholders have is to create new room for maneuver. A cultural infarction can currently only be avoided if the funding instruments and organizational principles are reconsidered and digitization is promoted. Read More Read Less
In view of the fact that even before the crisis there was a discussion about the dwindling public in cultural institutions and the loss of significance of museums, the authors are irritated by a contri bution by Tobias J. Knobloch, President of the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft, who urged that public funding be expanded in order to avert the consequences of the crisis for the cultural industry. In this context he also speaks of resilience.
Here it should not be forgotten that the crisis is the great time for cultural associations. They are now trying to get a share of the public funding.Differently it looks with the solo independent ones, which fall by the promotion rasters of the federation and federal state governments for enterprises and come thus over the rounds only with an application for unemployment relief ALG II .
Here the authors come to the crucial point of their article: Many artists do not have a business model that would be sustainable and provides for reserves and a sensible old-age provision. Postponing crisis and old-age provision until later is not a model with a future. Even if the state is currently generous, sustainable business practices must be introduced in the cultural sector.
In their outlook, the authors assume that the large state-financed houses will survive the crisis, and that many solo self-employed and privately financed houses will give up. Cultural tourism will also start again in 2021. The only chance the stakeholders have is to create new room for maneuver. A cultural infarction can currently only be avoided if the funding instruments and organizational principles are reconsidered and digitization is promoted. Read More Read Less
tag Museen Kulturförderung Soforthilfe Solo-Selbständige Hartz IV Olaf Zimmermann Tobias J. Knobloch All sections Bericht
»Was in Berlin passiert, ist ziemlich einmalig« . Corona-Hilfe für Klubkultur
»What's happening in Berlin is quite unique« . Corona aid for club culture
by Laura Aha (20 Jul 2020)
Original source: Spiegel
Clubs were the first cultural institutions to close, and they will most likely be the last to be allowed to reopen. In Berlin alone, 140 clubs and as many club event agencies employ around 9000 people. In Berlin, Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer has launched a 30 million euro aid package for clubs. Cologne and Hamburg have also granted support to the scene at a very early stage. The situation is different in cities that have not yet promoted pop culture. Here, clubs are falling through the ranks of the various support models and are fighting for recognition as cultural institutions. Currently, the open-air season is making it possible to compensate somewhat for the slump in sales. But the scene needs a long-term strategy to avoid falling victim to the crisis.
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tag Clubszene Berlin Soforthilfe Konjunkturpaket Klaus Lederer Music Bericht
Lieber Maler, male mir! . Diskussion über Kunst in Coronakrise
Dear painter, paint for me! . Discussion on art during Corona crisis
by Ingo Arend (08 Jul 2020)
Original source: TAZ
Under the title »Painting by Numbers - Art in the Corona Crisis«, the Green Party in the German Bundestag invited to a discussion about a group that currently plays hardly any role in the public discourse about the Cornona Crisis: the visual artists. At the moment, there is great concern that the money from the economic stimulus package will flow into the support of museums and cultural institutions, but that the artists themselves will go away empty-handed.
The author Ingo Arndt is somewhat irritated by the fact that in the discussion about possible s olutions to the precarious situation of artists, the idea of a New Deal, which Hans Ulrich Obrist brought up in April, has not been taken up. A large-scale acquisition project for museums and public institutions launched by the German government could offer a way out of the crisis by commissioning visual artists.
The author Ingo Arndt is somewhat irritated by the fact that in the discussion about possible s olutions to the precarious situation of artists, the idea of a New Deal, which Hans Ulrich Obrist brought up in April, has not been taken up. A large-scale acquisition project for museums and public institutions launched by the German government could offer a way out of the crisis by commissioning visual artists.
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tag Grundeinkommen Neustart Kultur Konjunkturpaket Die Grünen Lobby New Deal Erhard GrundlHans Ulrich Obrist Visual Arts/Design Bericht
Nach dem Stillstand die Besinnung?
After the standstill, the recollection?
by Till Briegleb (07 Jul 2020)
Original source: Süddeutsche Zeitung
The corona-related closures mean millions in lost revenue for the major German museums in Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich or Cologne. Even the rapid reopening of the museums can do little to change this. If in one week there are as many visitors as before the lockdown on one day, the museums are already happy. People are still afraid of exhibition spaces with great appeal. Above all, the number of city travellers is still very low. However, the museum management does not appear to be alarmed so far. This is partly due to the fact that they currently have the feeling tha t they are supported by the state. In contrast to the wave of layoffs in America, at least the permanent employees can rely on government support. However, financing is not a very popular discussion topic at the moment. Instead, the realignment of the houses is being discussed. Many will make a virtue out of necessity and concentrate again more on content than on big names.
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tag Museen Finanzen Marion Ackermann Hartz IV Neuausrichtung Sammlung Visual Arts/Design Bericht
Sibler und Söder bremsen die Kultur aus . Kunst in Bayern
Sibler and Söder slow down the culture . Art in Bavaria
by Friedrich-Karl Bruhns, Vera Deininger, Axel Schertel (07 Jul 2020)
Original source: Süddeutsche Zeitung
In letters to the editor, the Süddeutsche Zeitung creates space for its readers to react to the cultural policy in Corona times in Bavaria. They react to articles by Egbert Tholl and an interview with the State Opera Director Nikolaus Bachler. The results are devastating. Vera Deininger calls on the newspaper to fight courageously for culture in the face of the failure of political decision-makers. Dr. Axel Schertel expresses the same impression with regard to Austria and Switzerland, where cultural events with up to 1000 visitors are to be permitted again from Sept ember. In addition to the extreme restrictions for orchestras, Friedrich-Karl Bruhns criticises the government's self-praise with regard to "aid for solo self-employed persons". Contrary to the official announcements, these aids do not reach many artists for various reasons - unrealistic requirements or missing application forms. Bruhns sees the fact that in return the business lobby was able to negotiate completely different regulations for air traffic as proof that the art and culture sector as well as the threat to the existence of artists and organizers is not taken seriously. The trade-off between necessary caution and possible opening should apply to everyone.
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tag Egbert Tholl Markus Söder Bernd Sibler Münchner Philharmoniker Soforthilfe Hygieneregeln All sections Leserbriefe
Jeff Koons, Gagosian Gallery, and Many Other Blue-Chip Art Operations Received Millions of Dollars in Government Stimulus Money
by Taylor Dafoe (07 Jul 2020)
Original source: artnet news
Art seems to be a different business in the US if you look to the public aid during the crisis not only for museums, but also for galleries and artist studios. According to the data released by the federal Treasury Department not only galleries as Pace, David Zwirner and Gagosian received millions but also the studios of Jeff Koons or Meow Wolff. The lists of who received how much is publically available.
tag USA Galerien Soforthilfe Museum Visual Arts/Design Bericht
Solidarität in der Krise . Die Online-Plattform »Artist in the Box«
Solidarity during the crisis . The online platform »Artist in the Box«
by Susanna Schürmanns (04 Jul 2020)
Original source: WDR
What would a society be without art? What would happen if all artists went on strike for a year? This is a thought at the moment that impressively demonstrates the importance of art for society and its critical potential. The situation of artists in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is dramatic. Many of the freelance artists are fighting for survival. The project "Artist in the box" wants to draw attention to this precarious situation. About 60 artists, including such well-known photographers as Boris Becker, offer works online. Part of the income goes to the author, but a community contribution is also distributed among all artists. In this way the project wants to help everyone to survive the crisis unscathed.
The Corona Pandemic did not only affect the four photographers from Cologne, who initiated the project completely unprepared. The order books were full, project applications were approved when one cancellation after the other arrived at the beginning of March, and all income was wiped out overnight. Even though the state government in NRW provides support, the hurdles to obtaining it are great. Only half of the 30,000 artists in NRW received the 2,000 € in emergency aid, and many will probably have to pay back the 9,000 € for solo self-employed artists. The basic security as a means of subsistence does not include money for tools and equipment, without which the artists cannot pursue their profession. An instrument parallel to short-time work, as demanded by Heike Herold of the Kulturrat NRW, does not exist for the scene. Read More Read Less
The Corona Pandemic did not only affect the four photographers from Cologne, who initiated the project completely unprepared. The order books were full, project applications were approved when one cancellation after the other arrived at the beginning of March, and all income was wiped out overnight. Even though the state government in NRW provides support, the hurdles to obtaining it are great. Only half of the 30,000 artists in NRW received the 2,000 € in emergency aid, and many will probably have to pay back the 9,000 € for solo self-employed artists. The basic security as a means of subsistence does not include money for tools and equipment, without which the artists cannot pursue their profession. An instrument parallel to short-time work, as demanded by Heike Herold of the Kulturrat NRW, does not exist for the scene. Read More Read Less
tag Fotografie NRW Solidarität Artist in the box Soforthilfe Hartz IV Umsatzeinbruch Kurzarbeit Visual Arts/Design Fernsehfeature
Event- und Konzertveranstalter in Not . Aktion „Night of Light“
Event and concert organizer in distress . Campaign: „Night of Light“
by Tom Koperek, Stephan Karkowsky (22 Jun 2020)
Original source: Deutschlandfunk
On the evening of 22 June 2020 concert halls, theatres and live clubs are taking part throughout Germany: Their buildings illuminated in red did draw attention to the problems of the event industry at the "Night of Light". Since the event industry is a very heterogeneous branch of industry with over 150 subsections, it is difficult to make them visible in the political discourse.
