In a move to get ahead of ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, German lawmakers have announced a substantial aid package for arts and culture in 2021. €2.1 billion has been set aside for over 100 projects – €155 million more than was allocated for 2020.
Artnet News reports that sums as big as €85 million and €76 million will go towards renovations of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus theater and Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation buildings, respectively. €1.75 million will be earmarked for projects that address Germany’s colonialist history, along with €1.5 million for the German Lost Art Foundation, which conducts research into Jewish art confiscated by the Nazi regime. So far no figures have been provided for 2021 live music aid; 2020’s “Neustart Kultur” recovery plan included €150 million for such establishments.
“We invest in Germany’s cultural infrastructure and thus direct our gaze towards the future,” said Culture Minister Monika Grüttters in a statement. “This strong commitment by parliament to culture and media is a major signal in these difficult times.”
Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the current COVID-19 lockdown will extend into December 20th after the country reported its highest-ever single-day death toll on Wednesday, November 25th. The lockdown was first imposed in early November in response to a fall resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Prior to that, a 9:00 PM-6:00 AM nightlife curfew was put in place to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Germany’s €2.1 billion arts and culture relief package is still pending approval from the upper house in the parliament, but it is expected to be ratified January 1st, 2021.
