German cultural policy: An overview

The most important aspect of cultural policy in Germany is its federally devolved nature. Hence the article begins with an examination of the different levels of cultural policy, from the all-important municipal authorities to the relatively autonomous regional government and, finally, the national government, which discharges certain responsibilities in cultural matters through a number of departments, including the recently created ministry of culture. Certain exemplary structures of coordination in the cultural sphere are examined in some detail and the major phases in the development of German cultural policy since 1945 outlined. Discussion then focuses on selected case studies of cultural policy since the unification of Germany in 1990, reflecting the federal, municipal and regional levels of policy-making. The concluding section considers some of the advantages and disadvantages of the German model with its hugely expensive commitment to the importance of culture.

Keywords:

• Cultural Federalism
• Devolved Cultural Sovereignty
• Levels Of Decision-making
• Coordinative Structures
• Cultural Expenditure
• Socio-culture
• Multiculturalism
• The Culture Society