Hesse’s master plan is met with skepticism by the opposition. Green Minister Angela Dorn is enthusiastic.
Hesse gives itself a culture master plan. He does not want to limit himself to visions and theory, but also wants to point out solutions. It was created with the participation of culture enthusiasts and citizens. The experiences of the pandemic have been incorporated, said Hesse’s Minister for Science and Art, Angela Dorn (Greens), in her government statement in the state parliament on Tuesday. She gave examples of what is planned: A “non-visitor study” to find out why people don’t go to the theatre, go to the cinema or don’t learn an instrument. A pool is intended to place artists in schools, day-care centers or clubs. Museums and memorials should position themselves more digitally and support each other in the process. An online portal should make the cultural treasures of Hessen available to everyone. The plan provides better protection for cultural institutions and operators. They should cooperate instead of competing for grants. Funding procedures are becoming easier. The bundling of the challenges of the pandemic with the current questions of cultural policy is unique, said the minister. One focus will be cultural education. The plan is backed with 6.7 million euros, which are available for timely implementation in the 2023/2024 double budget. SPD spokesperson Daniela Sommer welcomed the fact that the minister was adopting the slogan “Culture for All” of the Frankfurt SPD politician Hilmar Hoffmann. The idea of the master plan is good, but participation also means being affordable for families. The master plan offers little cause for criticism. Cultural education projects, for example, are a good approach, said Sommer. The SPD shares with the Greens the idea of an ideal cultural landscape that is accessible to everyone. However, she doubts that the state government will be able to implement many new things in the few months until the state elections on October 8th. It remains with “non-binding declarations of intent”.
The left also welcomed the desire for a culture for all, emphasized parliamentary group spokeswoman Elisabeth Kula and the idea that culture can provide the basis for peaceful coexistence. “The concept is correct, but unfortunately it differs from reality.” The master plan says nothing about club culture, nothing about subculture or cinemas. “The focus is on public institutions of high culture.” There was a lack of offers for people who cannot afford to attend performances. “Culture in Hesse threatens to remain a safe space for the educated middle class in the future.”
Stefan Naas, cultural policy spokesman for the FDP, delivered a devastating verdict. Better funding for music schools is overdue, easier access to cultural funding is important. However, he assumes that after October 8th, cultural policy in Hesse will again “bear a clearly social-democratic signature”. Naas called for “not warm words, but deeds” and decisions after five years of doing nothing in the ministry. Dorn’s predecessor, the current Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU), had already announced a master plan in 2014. “Concrete measures” cannot be found in the paper. There is also no definition of what is meant by “networking” or “strengthening”. “Mrs. Minister, that’s nice, but not a cultural-political program,” said Naas, speaking of “rambling”, of formulations that were “arbitrary and meaningless”. Hesse does not have a large state exhibition to present, the expansion of the depot of the State Museum in Darmstadt is a long time coming, and there is a renovation backlog in the state theater. “Be specific, prioritize, set a schedule,” Naas demanded. “They just want to moderate, but they also have to take responsibility.”
