Strong Public Support for the Arts Continues in Germany

“When people come to Leipzig,” said Dr. Georg Girardet who is Commissioner for Culture for the city, “there are two surprises. First, there is the liveliness, the cosmopolitan feel of the city that surprises you. And second, there is the cultural richness.”

The enormously impressive list of concerts, music festivals, recitals, readings, and exhibitions each week in Leipzig is due at least in part to the city’s tradition of strong public support for the arts. The city subsidizes cultural activities with about $90 million each year. By contrast, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington DC has a budget of about $100 million for the entire United States.

In Germany, 95% of the support for the arts come from public budgets while only 5% are private. The figures are about the reverse in the United States. Fans of the opera in Munich can expect to pay 200 to 300 German marks for a seat while in Leipzig the cost is about 65 marks. Although prices have risen dramatically since the communist era when concert and opera tickets cost about 21 marks, Leipzig’s continued strong support for culture means that the arts are accessible to all. This may help to explain why Leipzig is so lively.—