#GoldmineCulture

Culture is what remains –  when everything else becomes uncertain. But many creative artists are currently struggling to survive. 
We ask you: Help us to become visible again.

We are reaching out to you because we know that your voice carries weight.

We are a free network of professional cultural workers who have come together since the pandemic began. Among us are award-winning musicians, actors, authors, visual artists—many of us have been struggling for years with a decline in commissions, funding, and recognition that threatens our livelihoods.
What we need: visibility. Solidarity. And your support.
With the #GoldgrubeKultur campaign, we want to draw attention to the situation of solo self-employed artists and call for concrete political measures. 
To this end, we ask you to share our appeal. Send a message. Help us to be heard. Since 2020, we have been networking regularly in online calls and working together on ideas to improve the situation in the cultural sector.

We are reaching out to you as a supporter, as a multiplier, as a voice that is heard. Please join us in sending a message about the diversity, depth, and vitality that characterizes our art and culture scene. Whether through personal words, media visibility, or discussions in politics and public life—every contribution counts.

Because especially in these times of crisis—in the face of war, climate change, social division, and digital transformation—our society needs what artists provide: orientation, reflection, beauty, disruption, cohesion. Our voices are essential for survival.

Thank you for your attention, and we hope for your support.
Sincerely
Rainer Bode 
 

The undersigned represent many other colleagues:
Rainer Bode, Münster, cultural consultant;
Anna Degenkolb, Bad Oeynhausen, visual arts;
Ricarda Grothey, Aachen, photography;
Sabine Hammer, Cologne, literature, film;
Freya Hattenberger, Cologne, visual arts & gender equality; 
Indra Janorschke, Hagen, performing arts; 
Thomas Kellner, Siegen, visual arts; 
Ralf Lambrecht, Bochum, independent theater maker; 
Maren Lueg, Hagen, music; 
Angelika Osthues, Münster, photography; 
Peter Simon, Cologne, music; 
Bettina Wenzel, Cologne, music; 

We are the third-largest economic sector in Europe

There are 1.8 million of us (in Germany) (3.9% of all employees) working in the cultural and creative industries (only 0.8 million people work in the automotive industry).

40% of us are self-employed.

191,099 of us are insured by the KSK (2024, https://www.kuenstlersozialkasse.de/service-und-medien/ksk-in-zahlen).

With the cultural and creative industries, we have overtaken the mechanical engineering sector in terms of value added.

The GDP of the cultural and creative industries is 3.9, directly behind the construction industry.

Our taxable income (of those insured by the KSK) averages only €20,383 (national average €51,876 gross) www.kuenstlersozialkasse.de/service-und-medien/ksk-in-zahlen.

We demand the following from the Ministry of Economic Affairs:
1.    Protection against recurring crises
2.    Higher incomes so that people can provide for themselves in times of crisis and old age
We demand the following from the Ministry of Culture and Science:
1.    Artist grants as a crisis intervention tool
2.    NRW Culture Conference and Vision Workshop for solo self-employed people in the cultural and creative industries
   
Almost three years of pandemic, now three years of consequences of the war of aggression and, more recently, massive global uncertainties.
Germany is in an economic crisis. High inflation with costs rising by up to 40% and private households' reluctance to consume are causing serious problems for the economy. Contrary to expectations that private households would spend more again due to wage increases, restraint continues. People are saving money due to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the overall uncertain political situation in the world, and the uncertain labor market. Yet consumption accounts for half of Germany's economic output. In addition, bureaucratic costs and red tape hamper the performance of companies and key economic players. Competitiveness with other countries is also declining. Germany's infrastructure is outdated. Industry, retail, exports, construction companies, and even culture are suffering. Coronavirus aid and support measures were affordable and helped to preserve livelihoods, but the crises are continuing and becoming more rather than less severe.
Culture is the third strongest economic sector in Europe. It relies heavily on consumption by the population. In addition, digital developments in the field of artificial intelligence are further restricting culture by undermining the appreciation of cultural work and denying important sources of income for culture. Yet, especially in these times of uncertainty and crisis, culture is particularly important for expressing and maintaining a creative and vibrant population. If culture is not recognized and falls into unemployment, the German economy faces an even bleaker outlook.

"I have been working internationally as a freelance vocal artist for 20 years. I have been able to make a living from it. This is no longer possible. The coronavirus pandemic has brought the international network I was part of to a standstill.
Starting in 2023, festivals to which I had already been invited were suddenly canceled because the funding fell through. I ask myself: will experimental avant-garde art soon no longer be able to exist on a professional level?
I am truly not in a creative crisis, but in a deep financial crisis—caused by a lack of performance opportunities. Basically, I urgently need monthly support to be able to continue my profession. I don't want to give up yet."

“Post-pandemic, sales have fallen to 40% due to the consequences of the war and inflation. Book sales are down to only 10% and our presence in exhibitions has been reduced to less than half due to pandemic-related postponements.”

“As a publisher of nature photo cards, I am not only fighting against rising production costs, a sharp increase in customer store closures, and growing bureaucracy, such as product safety regulations and supply chain legislation, but also against the increasing use of AI, which makes it easy for competitors to imitate bestsellers.”

“Audience numbers at the Theater an der Volme in Hagen are still not back to pre-pandemic levels (approximately 30-40 percent below pre-2020 capacity). Despite a 15 percent increase in ticket prices, these losses cannot be offset. We are forced to stage smaller productions, hire significantly fewer professional actors, perform and direct almost everything ourselves (well below minimum wage), write our own plays to save on royalties, and can no longer offer children's theater because it would no longer be profitable. We can no longer offer a stage for guest performances either, because the usual 30 percent of the revenue that remains with the organizer is not enough to cover running costs. No employee or civil servant would even get out of bed in the morning for our hourly wage. ”

“Literature is under pressure today due to the rapid rise of AI and the destructive impact of the pandemic. After a successful career in which I was able to make a living as a writer, I now find myself forced to dip into my retirement savings as the creative industry is increasingly replaced by machines. The loss of genuine, original voices in favor of AI-generated content feels like a dramatic step backward, where innovation and diversity in literature are stifled by stereotypes and superficiality.”

“ver.di summarized the latest developments on Equal Pay Day on March 7, 2025. Across Germany, the gender pay gap averages 15%, and among freelancers in the cultural sector, it is as high as 25%!”

Art and culture are not “just beautiful” – they are systemically important. In a time of global crises, social division, growing disinformation, and fast-paced digitalization, there is a greater need than ever for authentic voices, creative forms of expression, and spaces for reflection and dialogue.
If these structures disappear, there is a risk of lasting loss – culturally, socially, and economically. 

The stages, galleries, festivals, and trade fairs are open again. But the problems run deeper—and many are only now becoming apparent:
The aftermath of the pandemic is now hitting hard. Many musicians are currently missing out on GEMA royalties because hardly any concerts took place during the coronavirus years. These revenues always come with a delay—and so they are not coming now.
Reserves have been depleted, debt is rising, and in many places there are no new engagements.
Cultural organizers are fighting for economic survival, which is leading to lower fees or a complete lack of performance opportunities.

Added to this are structural pressures:
High inflation and increased living costs not only reduce artists' scope for creativity—they also diminish the public's interest in culture. Many people are saving in the wrong place: on art.
Digitalization and artificial intelligence not only threaten entire occupational groups in the long term—they are already putting massive pressure on fees, e.g. through the extremely low royalties paid by streaming platforms.
All of this is leading to a dangerous development: more and more creative minds are leaving their profession—not because of a lack of talent or commitment, but out of economic necessity. Many of us have been self-employed for years or decades—with professionalism, passion, and great personal commitment.

1. Short-term crisis intervention
Sustainable support instruments such as scholarships or tax-free basic fees – as already successfully tested during the coronavirus pandemic.
Energy and inflation adjustments, as have long been established in other professional groups.

2.    Medium-term measures
Strengthening market participants, minimum fees

3.    Long-term measure
An NRW culture conference and vision workshop for solo self-employed persons in the cultural and creative industries

4.    Further measures
Cancellation fees Reform of the Artists' Social Security Act: NRW has already made a move in the Bundesrat. Unemployment insurance for artists is in the works.
Above all, however: recognition that creative work is work—and not merely a “hobby with attitude.”

Structural solutions for crisis protection—e.g., through industry levies (nano-cent models) via collecting societies. For example, X cents per kilo of paint, or X cents per megabyte of data usage.

We demand the following from the Ministry of Economic Affairs:
1.    Protection against recurring crises
2.    Higher incomes so that people can provide for themselves in times of crisis and old age
We demand the following from the Ministry of Culture and Science:
1.    Artist grants as a crisis intervention tool
2.    NRW Culture Conference and Vision Workshop for solo self-employed people in the cultural and creative industries
Please let us know by [date] if you would like to participate—even a small gesture can have a big impact.

Because culture is a benefit for 80 million citizens in Germany.