Around 1000 people gathered on Munich's Königsplatz despite the cold and wet weather.
A strong appeal from cultural workers not to continue neglecting their industry in the Corona crisis.
The cultural scene demands: No more empty words, politics should finally act
Celebrities like Gerhard Polt, Hannes Jaenicke and Patrick Lindner are there
Art Minister Bernd Sibler promises to "continue the discussion"
After the government statement last week, the demonstration “Stand up for culture” scheduled for Saturday seemed to have become obsolete for some.
A good eight months after the start of the pandemic, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had finally promised the overdue improvements for the mostly ineffective artist aid.
But the new restrictions announced in the same breath encouraged many people to come to Munich's Königsplatz despite the cold and wet weather: According to the organizers, around 1000 demonstrators had come together to express their frustration with the state government, which they ignored and feels abandoned.
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Clear messages from those involved in culture in Munich.
© Marcus sleep
It's five past twelve, and not just for freelance artists.
Those in the second and third rows, who are often forgotten in the discussion, see their livelihoods threatened: technicians, artist agents, caterers, as well as the catering and hotel industry that benefits from cultural tourists.
This was not only reflected in the speeches of those affected.
Bavaria's former minister of culture, Hans Maier, also emphasized: “Culture has reached the limit of pain and your friends have to speak up.
Culture is not an insignificant addition, but important for Bavaria as a business location. ”Maier also reminded his CSU party colleagues of Article 3 of the Bavarian Constitution.
“There it says: 'The state protects the natural foundations of life and cultural tradition.
It promotes and ensures equal living and working conditions throughout Bavaria. '
This sentence must now ring in everyone's ears. "
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Ex-Minister Hans Maier (CSU) quoted Bavaria's constitution.
© Marcus sleep
Other speakers viewed the situation with gallows humor.
Like Gerhard Polt, who in a video message targeted the often absurd unequal treatment of cultural workers by politics.
But laughter got stuck in your throat in view of the gloomy future that was conjured up by the managing director of the Tölzer Knabenchor, Barbara Schmidt-Gaden.
She warned of “cultural impoverishment” and the consequences for the musical promotion of the next generation, who will soon only know classical music as “past folklore from recordings”.
Former Art Minister Wolfgang Heubisch: "It is announced and nothing is implemented!"
He is honored that the minister currently responsible for culture, Bernd Sibler, dared to take the podium to receive the expected boos on behalf of his party chairman.
However, he is unlikely to have converted many skeptics by praying down the planned improvements again.
Nor with the offer to “continue the discussion”.
After all the words, it would be time for action, as Sibler's predecessor Wolfgang Heubisch (FDP) noted: “It's the old song.
It is announced and nothing is implemented. ”In this way, the short-time working allowance would have been extended at lightning speed, but the artist aid, which is difficult to apply for, would have simply expired.
The suicide of a desperate musician colleague, of which entertainer Ron Williams recalled emotionally, is still a tragic isolated incident.
But it is all the more important to finally give cultural workers support and hope for the way through the crisis.
TOBIAS HELL