Culture and art

Germany is a nation with a thriving cultural life. Its rich cultural and artistic sector is constantly developing and moving forward.

Germany’s reputation as a great European cultural nation is based on famous names, its very vibrant art scene, and cosmopolitan diversity.

Background

Culture and democracy

Independence and diversity in art are valued and encouraged in Germany.

Intercultural Dialogue

The foreign cultural relations and education policy is a central component of comprehensive foreign policy.

Attractive Language

German is the most widely spoken native language in the EU. Interest in learning German is rising rapidly in many countries.

Cultural sovereignty of the federal states

German federalism is also reflected in culture: It is funded regionally and therefore boasts unparalleled diversity.

130 professional orchestras

A quarter of the world’s professional orchestras come from Germany

140 publicly funded theatres

In addition to Germany’s municipal, state and national theatres, there are 200 private theatres.

7,200 museums and galleries

Even outside of the big cities, Germany boasts a diverse museum landscape.

Over 3600 cultural heritage projects

The Federal Foreign Office supported the protection of historical cultural assets in 146 countries between 1981 and 2021.

130 million native speakers of German

German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in the EU.

15.5 million German language-learners

Worldwide, there are 140 German schools abroad and 2,000 schools with a strong focus on German language teaching.

157 Goethe-Instituts in 98 countries

The Goethe-Institut is the internationally active cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany.