The diversity in the presentation of the “Declaration of the Many” in the Max-Liebermann-Haus next to the Brandenburg gate, already on the Podium visible: Ten people are on stage. There are more speakers than available places, the Moderator Holger Bergmann of the Association is “The Many” is asking everyone to be brief. “An idea of the Many is not that they occur, as an Institution,” he says, not just a speaker, but many.
140 Berlin’s cultural institutions have jointly the “Declaration of the Many” will be presented. You want to work for the freedom of art against the attacks of the Right on cultural institutions. In the Text it says: “right-wing groups and parties to interfere with events, want to engage in game plans and working on a re-nationalisation of culture.” The signatories want a “völkisch-nationalist Propaganda” is not a Podium to offer and through “dialogue with the contributors and the audience,” democracy’s strengths.
Among the signatories numerous well-known Berlin theatre, museums and concert halls, but also libraries, colleges of art and small art stages. Similar statements also in culture, published at the end of in other German cities, including Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Dresden. In the whole of Germany have joined so far, more than 300 cultural institutions.
“Dangerous normalizations”
Betgram “On the game Annemie Vanackere, artistic Director of theater Hebbel am Ufer says it is nothing less than the freedom of art, which we have seen maybe too long as a matter of course,”. You looking forward to the Alliance and to “joint Action against discrimination, dangerous normalizations, and for the freedom of art.”
Berndt Schmidt, artistic Director of Friedrichstadt-Palast, cultural institutions are increasingly under pressure from the right. He had positioned himself last year against the AfD. The consequences of this were hate mail and a bomb threat. “We are a large house, but how this must feel for small cultural institutions, to get caught in a storm like this?”, Schmidt says. The explanation of the Many mean: Who is a cultural institution attacking have of today to 140. Schmidt: “the artist and Director do not have to be neutral, if they feel that human rights and the basic law will be eroded.”
you should not forget the difference between the city and the country, says Olaf Zimmermann, managing Director of the German cultural Council. The pressure from the right to take it. In Berlin, you will be blessed even on an island of Happiness, but the smaller the place, the greater the threat, says Zimmermann. He intends to carry on with the explanation of the Many pressures on the policy, “the state takes its obligation to protect artists and cultural institutions more seriously than at the Moment”.
on The question, what does the Initiative plan now, said Holger Bergmann, they wanted to regional act: Not a Central organization, but many groups. The Berlin Declaration provides, on the one hand, events on the regional level, on the other hand, should involve all the signatories to a nationwide campaign, action days and dialogue forums. In addition, the supporters are committed to “solidarity with cultural institutions, through propaganda and invective under pressure”. For may of next year, a Demonstration in Berlin is planned.