Germany allocates €1 billion to support cultural sector during pandemic

The German government has announced a second tranche of €1 billion in funding for the cultural industry, as part of its Culture New Start program. The announcement was made by Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters during a press conference at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin. This new funding follows a previous €1 billion allocation last year and includes over 60 sub-programs supporting cinema, museums, theaters, and creatives, with a focus on innovation and digitalization. Grütters stated that the funding sends a signal of hope to the cultural scene, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. Last summer, Germany had already increased its budget for acquiring contemporary artworks from €500,000 to €3 million, planning to purchase 150 works from galleries, fairs, and directly from artists nationwide. The Federal Art Collection aims to provide a rapid boost to artistic production, with smaller galleries and artists benefiting from direct studio purchases.