Answering to the AfD? What Germany’s regional elections could mean for arts funding

Germany’s Kunstmuseum Magdeburg, established in a 11th-century building, has become a prominent advocate of contemporary art in Saxony-Anhalt, a region west of Berlin. Funded municipally, the museum hosts special exhibitions and currently features a display titled Das Geteilte Jetzt/The Shared Now. However, the upcoming regional election in Saxony-Anhalt could significantly impact arts funding.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has gained popularity in former East Germany and is forecasted to receive over 40% of the vote in Sunday's election, is an extreme right-wing party. If the AfD forms a government, arts funding may face restrictions, as the party has proposed a more restrictive view of German culture.

One of the AfD’s key concerns is the Bauhaus movement, a 20th-century art school associated with Dessau. The Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau foundation, dedicated to the Bauhaus school, could be affected by potential changes in arts funding. Its director, Barbara Steiner, fears that a government dominated by the AfD could gradually restrict the institution's work, funding stability, and programming.

Meanwhile, the Kunstmuseum Magdeburg may also face budget cuts, which could impact its ability to stage provocative exhibitions like Das Geteilte Jetzt/The Shared Now. Arts professionals across Germany are closely monitoring the Saxony-Anhalt election, the first of four this month.