They are fighting for their stage in Gelting: In an open letter, several artists draw the attention of the mayor of Geretsried to the situation of the "threatened existence" Kulturbühne Hinterhalt.
Gelting – A call for help from Gelting will reach Mayor Michael Müller in the coming days. Artists and cultural workers from the region have written an open letter to the head of Geretsried's town hall, which is available to our newspaper. In it, they draw attention to the situation of the "existentially threatened" cultural stage Ambush. At the same time, the signatories propose ideas on how the city could provide concrete support to the cultural centre.
Gelting: Artists and cultural workers draw attention to the difficult situation of the cultural stage Ambush
One of the initiators of the letter is musician Benni Schäfer. For many years, the Geretsried native has been performing regularly on the cultural stage in Gelting. "That's how difficult it has been for the ambush lately," Schäfer told our newspaper.
With this letter, he and his comrades-in-arms would like to encourage the city of Geretsried "to expand cooperation". Apart from the Geretsrieder, artists Josef Brustmann from Waldram, musician and film composer Titus Vollmer from Geretsried, the Munich film composer Gerd Baumann, Dr. Sybille Krafft from the Waldramer Badehaus-Verein and the Lenggries singer Sebastian Horn have signed.
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"What we, as artists and citizens, expect from you and (...) of the city of Geretsried would not be a major rescue operation, but merely an expansion of cooperation, combined with regular support for the Isar-Loisach cultural association (...)," the letter reads. As an "obvious example", the use of ambush for concerts organized by the city is proposed.
What we as artists hope for from you and the city of Geretsried would not be a big rescue operation, but merely an expansion of the cooperation.
Excerpt from the open letter to Geretsried's mayor Michael Müller
In addition, the cultural workers point out to avoid "unnecessary competition" between urban planning and appointments in the cultural stage. Ultimately, Schäfer and his comrades-in-arms hope "that the letter will bring together a round table between the city and the ambush and the Isar-Loisach cultural association".
Letter to Mayor Michael Müller: Avoid "unnecessary competition" between the city and ambush
One key player is staying out of the matter: ambush operator Assunta Tammelleo. "I didn't initiate this. That's why I don't interfere." The action comes purely from the artists. "I was only told that such a letter is being created. That's all I know." Nevertheless, Tammelleo admits that the cultural stage is currently in a "misery".
+Benni Schäfer during an appearance in the Geltinger ambush. Now he wants to help the Kulturbühne.
© SH/Archive
Apart from a part-time employee for accounting, only volunteers keep the business running – 57 people. Among them, above all, members of the Isar-Loisach Cultural Association. For Tammelleo, this is not a permanent condition. "We can only continue as long as we have this large base of volunteers." But especially with volunteers, "something can always come up". Apart from that, Tammeleo's employees are not supposed to "work for free until the end of their days".
Ambush Gelting: Artists write open letter to mayor - "Great"
The ambush operator, on the other hand, finds the artists' initiative "great". For her, the letter was a sign of "very great appreciation". The ambush could be much more relaxed about the future through a kind of basic security, she explains. "It doesn't necessarily have to be a large sum of money."
Just as helpful would be, for example, a major patron, "or if we knew we have 30 fixed occupancy days a year, for example through the city". Whatever the end result of the letter, Assunta Tammelleo is certain that the letter will definitely make a difference. "Just by drawing public attention to our difficult situation."
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