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Vienna: More money to be invested in culture
After the culture budget was increased by 10 percent in the previous year (+ 26 million Euros), this year it was not even possible to keep the same budget, but the City of Vienna needed to increase it again. The budget will be increased from 279.4 million Euros in 2020 to 282.7 million Euros for 2021. This corresponds to an increase of 3.3 million Euros.
“The culture is such an important part for our city, so the culture budget was even been increased for the upcoming year. In times like these, this is a great success, ”said Vienna’s City Councilor for Culture, Veronica Kaup-Hasler. “The higher budget allows us to continue following the path we have chosen to secure institutions, associations and initiatives. In addition, it also enables fresh initiatives to be set and new projects to be started, for example in the area of district culture. In addition, the expansion of the fair pay strategy and the development of new areas are essential for the entire cultural environment and therefore also decisive factors for cultural policy activities in the upcoming years”.
Structural reform of the major Vienna stages
In the previous year the independent scene, the small and medium-sized stages were increased; We are continuing the process of consolidation in the theater sector this year: the city will increase the theater in der Josefstadt by 1.7 million euros, and the youth theater by 0.9 million euros. For fair pay measures, 1 million euros was estimated. The Volkstheater funding was increased by 2 million euros last year. With the significant increase in basic funding, which also allows for up-to-date employment relationships and contracts, the first stage of structural reform has been completed.
Vienna as a film location: developing future perspectives
Vienna is a modern, cosmopolitan city, which is also a popular destination for national and international film shoots because of its numerous historical locations. Building and developing this reputation is an important future prospect. In order to support film production right now in the exceptional situation caused by the Corona, the Vienna Film Fund, as Austria’s largest regional film funding agency, is being supported with EUR 1 million. After all, the Gartenbaukino, Vienna’s last large one-room and premiere cinema, will receive EUR 2 million for its long overdue general renovation in compliance with all monument conservation requirements.
Strengthening the culture in the districts
The art and culture is constantly developing throughout Vienna. It should be noticeable and perceptible to the limits of the city and should be strengthened especially in the densely populated districts. The pioneers are the cultural anchor centers supported with 1 million euros, which offer their own year-round program or cooperations such as the Kulturhaus Brotfabrik in Favoriten, Soho in the Ottakringer Sandleitenhof or the F23 in Liesing. In addition, Shift is being further developed with its numerous participatory district projects. The district museums reloaded are continuing the “makeover” they started last year.
Scholarships, media art, KÖR & Co.
In the future, even more scholarship holders will be able to fine-tune their concepts and work: The scholarship program will be expanded by 1 million euros. KÖR Art in Public Space and the funding for literature will each be topped up by 100,000 euros. The area of science was also considered: a call for digital humanism is being awarded with 300,000 euros and various educational programs are being expanded. For the first time, after a break for several years, the newly designed media art festival is taking place, which is endowed with 150,000 euros.
