Cultural fund to enable events despite energy crisis

20 February 2023

Funds for cultural institutions and event organizers co-ordinated in Hamburg

The German government has set aside EU 1 billion in so-called Cultural Energy Funds for events nationwide amid rising energy bills, a press release said Wednesday (February 15, 2023). Applications are managed and funds allocated by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance in Hamburg. Both gained considerable experience with a special pandemic-related fund for cultural events in 2021 with the treasury in Hamburg. A national IT portal was developed, which will now be adapted for the Cultural Energy Fund.

Targeted, uncomplicated assistance

"After the pandemic, culture is now facing the next fundamental challenge in the form of higher energy costs," said Dr Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media. Thanks to a close and trusting co-operation with cultural institutions, Hamburg has established an infrastructure that facilitates targeted and uncomplicated assistance for the cultural sector. Dr. Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance, remarked: "We and the treasury gained a wealth of experience in the technical implementation and handling such support measures through the numerous coronavirus grants."

Subsidising higher energy costs

This latest fund targets private and public cultural institutions as well as event organisers who have run into financial difficulties due to increased energy costs. Applications can be submitted retroactively from January 1, 2023. The IT portal provides a secure, straightforward and fully digitalised application process. Grants will be available until April 30, 2023 to compensate proportionately for the higher costs of gas, district heating and grid-connected electricity. Webinars on the fund are also planned. More information can be found on the website.

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