Vienna is investing 338 million euros in culture: a sign for the future!

Vienna is investing 338 million euros in culture: a sign for the future!

The city of Vienna impressively demonstrates its support for culture and science. A record high will be reached with a *cultural budget* of 338 million euros for 2024, which corresponds to an impressive increase of 25% compared to the previous year. This significant investment consolidates Vienna's status as a European cultural metropolis and highlights the need for art as an essential pillar of society. Gerhard Schmid, the Vienna SPÖ local councilor and chairwoman of the Committee for Culture & Science, emphasizes: “Culture is an elixir of life for a democratic society.” This announcement illustrates that the city wants to promote access to art even in challenging times, such as crises and economic upheaval. In order to achieve this, among other things, *free admissions* to museums and decentralized cultural events are offered so that all Viennese can take part in the cultural offerings, as the City of Vienna emphasizes.

Innovations and new initiatives

Particular attention is being paid to the opening of the new Vienna Museum in 2023, which is considered the most modern museum in the country and offers free entry. This museum will bring the history of Vienna to life and strengthen the connection between *culture* and *climate protection* through innovative projects such as the sustainable Pratermuseum. With its Cultural Strategy 2030, the City of Vienna is pursuing a long-term vision that focuses on *diversity*, *digitalization* and sustainable development. Schmid makes it clear: “Cultural policy is not an end in itself, but a social responsibility.” This approach is also reflected in the excellent tourism results. In 2024, Vienna recorded a new high of over 18.8 million overnight stays, with 75% of guests citing culture as the main reason for their visit, as wien.gv.at reports.

The noticeable economic successes underline that Vienna's investments in culture not only contribute to the general quality of life, but also to the stability of the economy. With a surplus of 1 billion euros in overnight sales as early as October 2024, the effects of this strategy are clearly visible. “This shows that Vienna’s investments in culture are paying off – for the people, for the economy and for a city worth living in,” concludes Schmid. Vienna therefore remains a place where art and culture are accessible to everyone and artists enjoy fair working conditions, which is essential for a vibrant cultural landscape, reports ots.at.