Viennese cultural policy: Future strategy for art and health care!

Viennese cultural policy: Future strategy for art and health care!

At the meeting of the Vienna municipal council on June 23, 2025, essential topics were dealt with that affect both culture and the health of the city. Mag. Veronica Kaup-Hasler from the SPÖ emphasized the return to normality in the cultural area according to the pandeme-related restrictions in 2024. Nevertheless, the continuing inflation remains a challenge for budgets in culture and science. This problem is reinforced by global social shifts that can also be felt in Vienna. In order to counter these uncertainty, art, culture and science should create supportive offers, such as the cultural summer and the activities of the Vienna Museum, which expects 1 million visitors for the coming year.

The reopening of the Pratermuseum in 2024 and the continuation of the cultural summer should represent further incentives for the population. The city of Vienna would like to ensure that culture is not perceived as a luxury, but as an essential general interest, said Kaup-Hasler. In addition, the Junge Theater Vienna will offer productions for a young audience in five districts, which further promotes access to cultural content.

health care in focus

Another central topic was health care in Vienna. Grin Ingrid Korosec (ÖVP) reported a budget of 6.8 billion euros for health care, care and sport. However, the long waiting times for operations and an acute lack of nursing staff were criticized. The city is faced with 1,500 bed closures and only has 58 discharge managers for 5,700 beds. Here, too, there was a proposal to improve training in the health network.

The Vienna city government has initiated a comprehensive modernization program with the motto "Vienna ensures: best health care for everyone", which includes up to 3.3 billion euros. Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig emphasized the priority of health and care, while seven urban clinics are experienced by basic renovations by 2030. In addition, the creation of 29 new regional centers and a training offensive for more than 16,000 new nurses are planned.

culture and their challenges

Vienna has a long tradition in art, culture and science that supports the development of a living and democratic society, such as [wien.gv.at] (https://www.wien.gv.at/ government agreement2020/stadt-der-kultur-und-des-des-s-miters/kunst-und-kultur-kulturmetropole-wien/). Art and culture create social spaces and strengthen identity. The city is continuously working on the improvement of the framework conditions for artistic work, with scholarships and granting to support creative ideas. The aim is to prevent dumping wages and establish fair fees.

Corona pandemic has made the vulnerability of the cultural business clear and emphasized the need for sustainable security. Therefore, measures to improve social security and resilience in art are planned. The city government also strives to strengthen the cultural local supply in districts through anchor centers and to support the club culture in Vienna.

For detailed information about the financial statements and the planned measures in the areas of health and culture, we refer to the articles of press.wien.gv.at and and [Spoe.wien] (https://www.spoe.wien/artikel/wiener- Government Klausur-wienstor-vor-beste- Gesundheit-fuer-Alle).