100% Cancellation of the Jugendkulturinitiative

Joint Statement: 100% Elimination of the Youth Culture Initiative Endangers the Expansion of Equitable Cultural Participation for Young People Across Berlin.
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The topic of ‘Cultural Participation’—that is, the involvement of all Berliners at all levels of publicly funded cultural offerings—is at the top of the cultural policy agenda of the new Senate. Cultural education is a key to its implementation.” This was stated in a press release from the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion dated September 21, 2023.

Cultural Senator Joe Chialo is quoted in the release:
‍“I am very pleased that we were able to include funding for the pilot phase of a ‘Youth Culture Initiative’ in the Senate’s draft double budget for 2024/25. This initiative focuses on the participation of young people in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. Cultural education—especially with regard to young people—is not only of great importance for individual personal development. It also forms the foundation for the future sustainability of Berlin’s exceptionally dense and diverse cultural landscape''
‍(www.berlin.de/sen/kultgz/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2023/pressemitteilung.1368085.php).
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Young people have a right to cultural education that helps them realize their potential and actively shape their world—regardless of social background, cultural affiliation, or gender. Cultural education is not a luxury but a foundation that empowers young people to act confidently and engage with society. It creates spaces where they can express their creativity, strengthen social relationships, and become active participants in a democratic society.

The Berlin Senate’s planned 100% cuts to the pilot phase of the Youth Culture Initiative funding program and the project funds of Berlin Mondiale—the organization implementing its accompanying program—threaten these essential opportunities. This decision disproportionately impacts children and young adults who already face barriers to accessing cultural programs. The cancellation of the youth culture initiative while still in the pilot phase means an abrupt loss of cultural education work that had begun on a sustainable basis in districts such as South Neukölln, Spandau, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Kreuzberg, and Reinickendorf. These decisions weaken not only individual projects but also deprive young people, particularly those living outside Berlin’s S-Bahn ring, of the chance to experience self-efficacy and develop democratic competencies.

‍Prematurely terminating the Youth Culture Initiative and Berlin Mondiale will not result in long-term savings. By 2024, nearly €1 million had already been invested in the initiative to develop structurally sustainable, decentralized cultural offerings. Partnerships in structurally underserved neighborhoods were established, staff were hired, district offices were involved, and most importantly, trust and relationships with young people were built. Within one year, the Youth Culture Initiative laid the groundwork for sustainable collaboration between cultural institutions and local stakeholders. Cutting funding now would destroy these achievements and leave behind disappointed, and potentially disconnected, young people. From a purely economic perspective, this approach is also counterproductive—it will cost significantly more in the long run.

Instead of cutting culture and youth programs, we need more investment in cultural education. Pilot programs like the Youth Culture Initiative represent important milestones in the citywide expansion of decentralized cultural work.

We call on the Berlin Senate to take this responsibility seriously and ensure that cultural education remains accessible to everyone – as a foundation for a creative, solidarity-based, and democratic society.
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‍Signatories:

• Sasha Waltz & Guests
• Schwules Museum
• Literaturhaus Berlin
• Heimathafen Neukölln
• Theater an der Parkaue
• Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung
• Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
• Berliner Philharmoniker
• Konzerthaus Berlin
• Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz
• Berlin Mondiale