Bauhaus Manifesto: Broad alliance promoting artistic freedom
Weeks before Saxony-Anhalt's state election, representatives from German cultural, crafts, architecture, design and church sectors unite to promote freedom, openness and creativity.
On August 20, the Bauhaus Manifesto 2026 was launched by Germany's Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer. The document declares a broad coalition aiming to bolster the Bauhaus principles in the face of anti-democratic threats. The Bauhaus, a global cultural symbol established in 1919 by Walter Gropius, was known for its principles of artistic freedom, openness to new ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the belief that cultural innovation can contribute to a democratic society.
Notable signatories of the manifesto include the German Cultural Council, German Commission for UNESCO, German Bishops Conference, and the German Museums Association. The manifesto emphasizes that the Bauhaus exemplifies creativity, exchange, and openness to new ideas, values that are essential for a democratic society. The signatories reaffirm their commitment to defending the Bauhaus ethos against populist criticism and anti-democratic attacks.
They argue that the Bauhaus' persecution by the Nazis serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural memory and the protection of cultural institutions that foster constructive debate. The manifesto also highlights the Bauhaus' enduring influence, rooted in its ethos of bold ideas, freedom of artistic thought, and the conviction that an open society drives cultural renewal.
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