OO. The state government is planning almost a million euros in cultural funding

Multi-year cultural funding will be decided for the first time next Monday, with a total of around 900,000 euros expected to flow over the next few years. Initially it is a pilot project, State Governor Thomas Stelzer promises “Planning security for both sides”.

According to the state government’s plan, the Crossing Europe film festival, which has opened the Linz stages to filmmakers from all over Europe once a year on six event days since 2004, is to be supported with 499,700 euros until 2026. In the current year, 153,400 euros will be made available in the first step. The KUPFzeitung, the cultural-political magazine of the Upper Austrian Culture Platform (KUPF), will receive a total of 370,100 euros by the end of 2025 and 179,000 of them in this calendar year. According to Governor Stelzer, this will become one “long-standing wish fulfilled”.

In the past, Upper Austrian cultural projects have repeatedly pushed for multi-year funding programs in order to be able to better plan their financial situation in the long term. And that’s exactly what you’re going to do now “with the decision to provide funding for two or three years”Stelzer was quoted as saying in a state broadcast. Initially, this is a pilot project limited to Crossing Europe and the KUPFzeitung.

Funding model could be expanded

If the funding model proves successful, so should the new financial opportunities “for well-known funding applicants whose programs and budget planning are characterized by continuity”, will be opened, according to the state. Come into question “Facilities that already receive regular annual funding and constant, coherent budget and program planning over the next few years” be able to show. The state government wants to be in close and regular contact with the funded projects.

Governor Stelzer was satisfied with the pilot project, which is scheduled to start on Monday with the approval of political decision-makers: “Promoting culture is a matter close to our hearts in the state government; Upper Austria is a cultural country.” Both institutions supported in the pilot project are “fixed components of cultural life in Upper Austria”the decision is “also proof of our appreciation of cultural work”.