Cultural policy in Vienna: Dispute over funding and freedom of expression

Cultural policy in Vienna: Dispute over funding and freedom of expression

In an eventful debate in the Vienna City Council, the People's Party (ÖVP) sharply criticized the city's cultural policy. On Wednesday, the cultural spokesman for the ÖVP, Peter L. Eppinger, expressed loud concerns about the awarding of cultural funding. His central accusation: The city gives funds exclusively to a supposed “left -wing circle of friends” and thus ignore the needs of wider sections of the population. "Vienna literally subsidizes itself," he continued.

These statements were supported by the ÖVP councilor Laura Sachlehner. She brought her concern about a commercial of the folk theater, which she considered problematic. She felt particularly attacked by the song "Your will (home to the empire)", which the theater had broadcast to warn of right -wing extremism. In her eyes, this spot fuels misunderstandings regarding the National Socialist past.

FPÖ agrees, while Greens and Neos counter

The criticism of cultural promotion was supported by the Freedom Party (FPÖ). City councilor Stefan Berger complained that despite the high subsidies, the results of Viennese cultural policy were rather modest. He added that the Volkstheater is increasingly noticing through provocative appearances instead of offering high quality art.

Ursula Berner from the Greens countered the allegations of the ÖVP with a plea for a true Ukrainian cultural policy that should ensure education for all children and fair remuneration for artists. She emphasized the importance of cultural diversity in Vienna and clearly advocated promoting all artists.

The heated debate shows how strongly polarized cultural policy in Vienna is, with some rectification and others demanding a more comprehensive perspective on cultural content. The exchange has continued in the last few days, and it remains to be seen which specific steps the city government will take.

More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on www.meinbezirk.at .