Vibrant Nation of Culture

Germany’s reputation as a major cultural nation is based on great literary figures such as Goethe, Schiller and Thomas Mann, and famous composers such as Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Yet contemporary authors like

• Carolin Emcke,
• Jenny Erpenbeck,
• Navid Kermani and
• Juli Zeh

and musicians like

• Kim Petras,
• Milky Chance,
• Robin Schulz and
• Zoe Wees

are also keeping Germany’s cultural life in the public eye around the world.

In recent years, young artists and creators from migrant backgrounds have made a particular contribution, opening up new perspectives through their work and enriching the cultural landscape. The work taking place at the Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin Berlin Once a year, during the Berlinale film festival, the world of the silver screen focuses its attention on Berlin. And the city’s inhabitants are used to global interest. After all, the people of Berlin have lived in a capital city since 1458. However, there is also a shady side to the city’s history… Read more › is a prime example of this, whose director, Shermin Langhoff, has coined the term “postmigrant theatre”. A strong postmigrant current is also underway in the world of literature, represented by writers like Fatma Aydemir, Nino Haratischwili, Abbas Khider and Saša Stanišić.

Germany’s federal structure also contributes to the richness and diversity of the country’s cultural landscape. Since its foundation in 1949 and reunification in 1990, the Federal Republic has consciously drawn on its federal traditions and given cultural sovereignty Cultural sovereignty In Germany culture is the core area of the 16 states’ sovereignty. The Basic Law accords the Federal Government few powers on cultural questions, and thus most cultural institutions are maintained by the states and municipalities. This independent cultural life in the states has led to cultural… Read more › over to its federal states Federal states Germany is a federal state. Both the central federal government and the 16 federal states have independent areas of jurisdiction. The government in Berlin is responsible for foreign policy, European policy, defense, justice, employment, social affairs, tax and health. The federal states are… Read more › .

Germany’s structure, composed as it is of many former small and medium-sized states and free cities, has resulted among other things in around

• 115 municipal and state theatres,
• around 86 private theatres and
• 129 professional orchestras Orchestras There are around 130 German professional orchestras, first and foremost among them the Berlin- Philharmonic, the Berlin Staatskapelle,  the Gewandhausorchester, the Bamberg Symphonic and the Munich Philharmonic Read more › , some of which are affiliated to the public service broadcasting companies.

More than 7,000 museums and exhibition venues make for an unparalleled museum landscape. In addition, there are globally famous cultural events that take place all over Germany, such as the Berlinale – the Berlin Berlin Once a year, during the Berlinale film festival, the world of the silver screen focuses its attention on Berlin. And the city’s inhabitants are used to global interest. After all, the people of Berlin have lived in a capital city since 1458. However, there is also a shady side to the city’s history… Read more › International Film Festival – Frankfurt Book Fair Frankfurt Book Fair The International Frankfurt Book Fair has taken place every autumn since 1949 and is the outstanding annual international book trade get-together. The highpoint of every book fair is the award-giving ceremony for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, which has been won by the likes of Margaret… Read more › , the Bayreuth Festival and Rock am Ring.

Germany’s cultural and creative economy is one of its most innovative sectors. In 2023, the sector generated sales of 204.6 billion euros, accounting for 2.2 percent of the total sales volume of the German economy.

The Federal Government Federal Government The Federal Government and cabinet is made up of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers. While the Chancellor holds the power to issue directives, the ministers have departmental powers, meaning that they independently run their respective ministries in the framework of those directives… Read more › is keen to boost the creative and cultural economy, and has expanded funding and financing tools to this end. International cooperation, cultural exchange, cultural diplomacy and cultural tourism are also to be intensified. The Federal Government has highlighted the potential that artificial intelligence (AI) offers in art and culture - provided that proprietary rights are upheld and artificially generated content remains clearly recognisable. Together with the federal states Federal states Germany is a federal state. Both the central federal government and the 16 federal states have independent areas of jurisdiction. The government in Berlin is responsible for foreign policy, European policy, defense, justice, employment, social affairs, tax and health. The federal states are… Read more › , a “Culture and AI” strategy is to be developed.

Foreign cultural and social policy is a high priority for Germany. Alongside classical diplomacy and foreign economic policy Economic policy In line with the federal system, structuring and coordinating economic and financial policy is the joint task of central government, the federal states and munici­palities. They cooperate in various committees. Furthermore, the Federal Government seeks the advice of independent economists. Every… Read more › , it forms a core element of the foreign policy spectrum. Through dialogue between people and civil society, it facilitates discussions in what Germans call “pre-political spaces”. This creates opportunities to improve mutual comprehension. It allows conflicts and crises to be defused, and a basis for discussion persists even during periods of political instability. One way this basis can make a difference is by helping at-risk artists and creative individuals to find refuge in Germany or a third country through one of the protection programmes run by the Federal Foreign Office, where they can then continue their work supported by scholarships. Foreign cultural and social policy is also responsible for restoring and preserving significant buildings and items of global cultural heri­tage and promoting the German language abroad. Through its funding for translations, the Federal Foreign Office is also committed to ensuring that Germany’s cultural diversity is available to an international audience.

Around 15.5 million people around the world are currently learning German. The majority are in Europe, but increasing numbers of learners are in Africa and Asia. Germany’s strong economy and the demand for skilled workers, accompanied by its high-quality higher education system, make learning German a very attractive option. The Goethe-Institut’s 150 offices in 99 countries provide a gateway to Germany’s language and culture.