Culture in need? Conference in Neubrandenburg fights for basic supplies!

Culture in need? Conference in Neubrandenburg fights for basic supplies!

The state cultural conference took place in Neubrandenburg on Thursday, with the motto “Show the flag: Make culture strong!” and covered a wide range of topics relating to basic cultural provision. Around 350 artists and cultural workers from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing culture in Germany. The conference was opened by Culture Minister Bettina Martin, who in her speech emphasized the inseparable connection between cultural education and a sense of community. Culture M-V reports that Martin's personal experiences with culture from her school days also brought an emotional touch to the discussion.

The cabaret artist Silvio Witt was invited for the keynote, who emphasized in a refreshing way how important it is that culture can be uncomfortable and fun at the same time. In this exciting atmosphere there was also a lively panel discussion, moderated by Dörthe Graner, in which the role of basic cultural provision was the focus. Participants included Antje Theise and Imke Freiberg, who both pointed out the needs and challenges of the cultural scene.

Basic cultural care: A unifying element

What exactly does basic cultural care mean? This central question circulated throughout the event. Marion Schael described how important it is to understand basic cultural services as a unifying element in society. The relevance of cultural education, starting in daycare centers and schools, was also a frequently addressed topic. Antje Theise also mentioned the worrying closures of libraries, especially in Western Pomerania-Rügen. She called for more investments to be made in mobile library offerings in order to promote cultural participation among broad sections of the population.

In addition, the challenge was addressed that cultural policy is often viewed as a voluntary service. Clear standards for the cultural infrastructure are therefore necessary in order to ensure quality and enable broad access to art and culture. The ongoing discussions about how culture can be understood as a duty show that the state has a central responsibility for the cultural infrastructure. Kubi makes it clear that it is necessary to establish responsibility partnerships with various actors from business and society in order to shape the cultural landscape.

In conclusion, the conference was an important step towards a stronger joint effort to secure basic cultural services. The voices of cultural workers and political decision-makers come together in an effort to make cultural offerings accessible to everyone and to promote cultural diversity. Because in the end, the strength of culture lies in its ability to bring people together and form communities. A successful evening with lots of discussion material for the coming months!