The federal culture budget for 2025 will rise to around 2.33 billion euros. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has increased the budget for culture and media by just under 2 percent in the coming year. This is intended to strengthen the independent cultural scene as well as major cultural institutions and heritage protection projects.
The federal government has decided that the federal culture budget will increase in 2025.
Photo: Jörg Braukmann - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via: Wikimedia Commons
The federal culture budget for 2025 will increase significantly and provide the State Ministry of Culture and the Media with a total of 2.33 billion euros. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of around 2 percent. Minister of State Weimer emphasized that the federal government is thus investing in the “democratic foundation of our country” and preserving cultural wealth and media diversity as central components of the German cultural nation. One focus of the 2025 budget is the promotion of the independent scene. The federal cultural funds will receive an additional 6 million euros so that even more projects can be supported nationwide. A total budget of up to 24 million euros is available for the six federal cultural promotion funds. This underlines the importance of the independent cultural scene, which makes a strong contribution to the cultural landscape thanks to its diversity and reach. Major cultural institutions will also benefit from the increased federal cultural budget in 2025. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation will receive an additional 20.9 million euros to complete the ongoing transformation processes and ensure the future viability of the museums. The German National Library and the Federal Archives will receive additional funding to expand their infrastructure and archive work. Minister of State Weimer commented humorously: “Nefertiti can continue to smile happily.”
Funding for the Jewish Museum Berlin will also be increased in order to strengthen visible Jewish life as an integral part of society. In addition, the New Synagogue Berlin Foundation, Centrum Judaicum, will receive 175,000 euros. Another focus of the Federal Culture Budget 2025 is the protection of historical monuments. 35 million euros have been earmarked for the special monument protection program. Since 2009, around 547 million euros have been invested in the restoration of over 3,000 nationally significant cultural monuments and historic organs. Minister of State Weimer emphasizes the importance of the measures for the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations. The Federal Culture Budget 2025 is thus increasing in a tight budgetary environment, but shows clear priorities for the promotion of culture, media and monument protection. The Budget Act comes into force retroactively from January 1, 2025.