Joint Statement 

Continue funding for the MUT-MUSKEL-TRAINING project!

The Federal Ministry of the Interior—as the supervising authority of the Federal Agency for Civic Education—has prohibited funding for a project in the field of democracy promotion by the dedicated group “Radikale Töchter.”

Federal funding institutions, including subordinate agencies, whose project funding is dedicated to aspects of democratic coexistence in the Federal Republic that are relevant to society as a whole, should not have their sovereignty compromised in any way: Through their fact-based work, they are an integral part of a resilient and vibrant democracy in Germany.

At stake here is also the fundamental approach of politicians to the federal government’s socio-political responsibilities: This concerns the principles of reliability, freedom, and integrity in the matter at hand—which should be applied in an exemplary manner—that define the work of numerous federal institutions and must not be undermined by political arbitrariness.

As signatories, we view these developments with great concern and appeal to the federal government and parliament to act with greater expertise and sensitivity in the realm of grants and awards, so as not to jeopardize precisely what these decisions are meant to protect: nothing less than the freedom of opinion and art in a democracy.

Initial signatories:

• Academy of Arts, Manos Tsangaris, President
• Alliance of International Production Houses, including:
  • FFT Düsseldorf, Kathrin Tiedemann, Artistic Director and Managing Director
  • HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin, Annemie Vanackere, Artistic Director and Managing Director
  • HELLERAU - European Center for the Arts, Dresden, Carena Schlewitt, Artistic Director
  • Kampnagel Hamburg, Amelie Deuflhard, Artistic Director
  • Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt a.M., Anna Wagner and Marcus Droß, Artistic Directors and Managing Directors
  • PACT Zollverein, Essen, Stefan Hilterhaus, Artistic Director and Managing Director
  • tanzhaus nrw, Düsseldorf, Ingrida Gerbutavičiūtė, Artistic Director
• Fonds Darstellende Künste, Wolfgang Schneider, Board Member, and Holger Bergmann, Managing Director
• Freie Volksbühne Berlin e.V. / Kulturvolk, Katrin Schindler, Managing Director
• Association of German Puppet Theaters / VDP, Heike Klockmeier, Board Member
• ver.di, Lisa Mangold, Head of the Arts & Culture Division
• GDBA / Cooperative of German Stage Employees, Lisa Jopt, President
• Vienna Festival, Milo Rau, Artistic Director, among others