Vienna Also Cuts Cultural Budget

In the preliminary budget for 2026, the figures increase by 1.4 percent compared to 2025, from 348.8 to 353.7 million euros, as the adult education centers (VHS) are added. Without VHS, the cultural budget would amount to 322.285 million euros. The city of Vienna can withhold 2.5 percent of the funding in the first year and 5 percent in the second year for institutions like VHS, Vienna Museum, and WWTF in case of financial difficulties. Councillor Kaup-Hasler emphasized a budget increase of 44.1 percent since 2018, which has made cultural institutions crisis-resilient.

Kaup-Hasler: Focus on "large institutions" for cuts

"We have focused on the large institutions for the savings," assured Vienna's City Councillor for Culture, Kaup-Hasler (SPÖ). The largest savings are, of course, items that will disappear in 2026 anyway - such as the 9.5 million euros budgeted for the Strauss Year in 2025 or the investments made in the same amount for the new children's culture center in Floridsdorf, which is to open in 2028. The Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW) will receive 5 million euros less, with "the political wish being that the opera is protected and maintains its profile," said the culture councillor, who is in agreement, indeed almost "hand in hand in synchronized swimming" with Finance Councillor Barbara Novak. Where exactly the funds are saved is left to the VBW themselves, with the premise that any staff reductions should be carried out "with a social perspective."

Much is also saved by suspending the Old Town Preservation Fund, which distributed 2.6 million euros this year. The cultural funding program "Shift," launched in 2014, will be discontinued - which brings around 1.5 million euros. The Summer Night Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic in Schönbrunn will no longer be supported by the city of Vienna (recently there was a subsidy of 250,000 euros): "I'm sorry, it's not nice, but bearable," said Kaup-Hasler, who referred to the Prater picnic of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. They may also be cut ("but that is still in the final loop"), as well as the Konzerthaus, which will receive "a not insignificant amount" less. Such institutions have recovered after the Corona crisis and are not endangered in their existence, according to the councillor.

Vienna wants to secure medium-sized stages despite cuts in the cultural budget

"The social perspective on the cultural landscape is maintained - on both the producers' and the audience's side." This was particularly important to her, said the cultural politician. "Especially in times when so many burdens are coming upon everyone, we must ensure that there is plenty of free access. We have 30 free events per day in Vienna, totaling 11,000 per year." The largest project in this regard is the free visit to the permanent exhibition at the Vienna Museum, which will continue to be secured in the future."

The funding levels for Theater in der Josefstadt, Wiener Festwochen, and Volkstheater remain the same. "For most, we were able to maintain the budget - this is very positive news in these times," said Kaup-Hasler, who is aware that with rapidly rising personnel costs, the pressure to save in institutions increases even with stable budgets. "A major concern" was to "secure the medium-sized stages." The TAG will undergo a complete renovation for the TEATA led by Sara Ostertag, and there are "more spaces than ever" for the independent scene. In the former Sophienspital in Vienna-Neubau, a new art space "with a diasporic perspective" called "MEZEKƎRƎ" is being created. "We need these positive signals!" The work scholarships created during the Corona period will be reduced from 84 to 48 and will be distributed across the sectors "depending on the identified needs." "So it will look a little different each year."

Vienna Develops New Model for the Culture Euro

The cultural funding for the Amerlinghaus will be maintained, and the Jewish Museum Vienna, which has been "suffering from a decline in visitors" since the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war, will receive slightly more in 2026 (5.7 instead of 5.5 million euros). "It was clear: We must protect the institution." The contribution to the renovation of the City Temple will be reflected in the budget with 3 million euros.

At the Ludwig Boltzmann Society (LBG), there is a "moderate reduction" of the Vienna contribution, which makes up only a fraction of the total budget, from 700,000 to 450,000 euros. However, the new Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Science Communication and Pandemic Preparedness (LBI SOAP), led by Florian Krammer, will be guaranteed 300,000 euros annually for at least 5 years. The WWTF will receive 11.7 instead of 12 million euros in 2026.

"There are also ideas on the revenue side," assured Kaup-Hasler: "I have long advocated for the Culture Euro, hoping that we could link it to the local tax." However, no agreement could be reached on this in the coalition with the NEOS. "Now a different model is being developed for this. So something will come, but I cannot yet estimate how high these revenues will be."

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.