Shooting in the event of cultural promotion: Whoever falls by the wayside now

Shooting in the event of cultural promotion: Whoever falls by the wayside now

With regret, Economic City Councilor Günter Riegler (ÖVP) recently announced that due to austerity measures by the coalition government, no more funding will be provided for significant events in the economic sector. The affected events include the popular festivals "Stimneers", "La Strada", the Mountain Film Festival, the New Year's Show and the impressive summer sand sculptures. These changes come after an intensive political discussion about the budget.

"Heavy Heart" you have to pass on this message to the organizers, said Riegler at the end of September. This message throws a shadow on the future events, which are difficult to maintain due to the financial support of the city of Graz.

politics and savings specifications

The decision to discontinue the funding for these cultural events is the result of the latest political decisions that led to reducing expenses. The background to these cuts is the necessary measures to balance the urban budget. Riegler indicated that the final decision has not yet been made: "If that really comes," he explained what underlines the uncertainty associated with these funding. The city administration is aware of the importance of cultural events, but the financial framework is forcing drastic measures.

The effects of this decision on the festivals could be significant if the organizers fail to find alternative sources of financing. Without the support of the city, creative solutions must be found to keep the tradition of these events alive. This could include sponsorship, private donations or the increase in ticket prices, but this could also affect the number of visitors.

The festivals not only have a cultural importance for the city, but also boost the local economy by attracting tourists and securing jobs. In view of the current developments and uncertainty as far as future support is concerned, it remains to be seen how the organizers will react to these challenges.

A comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the financial cuts and the importance of the events concerned can be found here .