Numerous opposition motions postponed
Vienna (PK) – The Cultural Committee today supported a coalition call for an initiative to enable more cultural education for children and young people. Numerous applications from the opposition factions, for example on cultural education offers, summit crosses as Alpine cultural assets and a trust office against harassment and violence in art, culture and sport, were postponed. Also on the agenda were reports on spending from the COVID-19 crisis management fund.
Numerous demands for cultural education
The MPs are calling for greater support for cultural education for children and young people. With the votes of the ÖVP and the Greens, the committee sent a corresponding motion for a resolution (3733/A(E)) of the coalition in the plenary session. The government is asked to take an initiative to strengthen cooperation between cultural and educational institutions and the cultural education of students in Austria.
The Social Democrats also presented several initiatives on the topic, all of which were postponed with the votes of the ÖVP and the Greens. For example, there was a motion for a resolution (2833/A(E)) is again on the agenda, with which the SPÖ is calling for funding to enable all children and young people to take part in school events and extracurricular cultural education and sports offers. Another SPÖ initiative calls for a cultural credit of €200 for all 18-year-olds, which can be spent on concert and theater tickets or books and sound recordings over the course of two years (2983/A(E)). Under the motto “Every child has an instrument,” the SPÖ is calling on the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Education to create a program to enable all students to learn an instrument at school, and in particular to cooperate with local music schools (3692/A(E)). Another motion for a resolution by the Social Democrats aims to expand funding programs for the mediation of art and culture, taking into account joint control and networking, as well as strengthening the position of art mediators in the cultural sector (3691/A(E)).
Debate about coalition proposal and learning instruments
Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek (SPÖ) viewed the coalition initiative as a good response to the numerous efforts by the Social Democrats to expand access to art and culture for children and young people. The application itself is insubstantial and superficial. Katharina Kucharowits (SPÖ) also spoke of a “No-Na-Ned motion”. Both wanted to know from State Secretary Andrea Mayer what was happening in concrete terms – apart from the commitment to cooperation between the cultural and education departments. Kucharowits drew attention to her group’s proposals, which range from funding pots and cultural assets to the “Every Child His Instrument” initiative. The MP emphasized that it was important to her that every child had the right to cultural education. Ruth Becher (SPÖ) also responded to the suggestion. The provision of PCs for students worked relatively smoothly. In a highly cultured country like Austria, this should also be possible for instruments. It is unacceptable that learning to play instruments is only reserved for children from higher-earning families.
Hermann Brückl (FPÖ) supported the motion. It is necessary to support children and young people in their musical talents. He also found the funding pots demanded by the SPÖ useful. However, he could not gain anything from the coalition proposal. This is “completely insubstantial and vague”. The justification also states that some things are already in motion. From his point of view, the application was not necessary, which is why he submitted a request for an adjournment. Thomas Spalt (FPÖ) was also unable to find any specific content in the application from the ÖVP and the Greens. There was no majority in the committee for a postponement: FPÖ, SPÖ and parts of the NEOS voted in favor.
Julia Seidl (NEOS), who also criticized the coalition proposal as vague, suspected that the department already had a finished project in the drawer that would be presented to parliament shortly after the decision. Like her parliamentary group colleague Henrike Brandstötter, she criticized the SPÖ initiative for learning instruments. Aside from the fact that not every child wants to learn an instrument, there is also a lack of music school teachers and space at schools, both emphasized.
Eva Blimlinger (Greens) advocated that every child should have the opportunity to learn an instrument. Regarding her own initiative, she explained that it was so general because the measures were currently being developed. Sibylle Hamann (Greens) emphasized that schools play a key role when it comes to overcoming barriers to art and culture. She will therefore be involved in the ongoing discussions between the culture and education departments so that concrete measures can be taken. On the part of the ÖVP, Laurenz Pöttinger was convinced that the initiative would take the art and culture region a step further. Maria Großbauer and Rudolf Taschner (both ÖVP) were critical of the SPÖ proposal for learning instruments. You can’t force children to do this. Andrea Kunzl (SPÖ) countered that her group was not concerned with compulsion, but with the possibility.
State Secretary Mayer said she would take the proposal into discussions with the Ministry of Education. In general, she and the education department have agreed to bring more culture into schools, in a first step for ten to fourteen year olds in all school types. Concrete measures that will be financed with additional funds from both departments will be presented at the beginning of the year, Mayer said. A central cultural policy concern for her is to strengthen access to art and culture, especially for young people. The active participation of as many people as possible is the prerequisite for art and culture to develop their power. A recent study showed that the importance of art and culture is particularly influenced by family and school.
Debate about visas for artists from the global south
The SPÖ campaigned for the issuance of visas for entry, residence and temporary travel for artists from the global south (3690/A(E)). The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions results in preferential treatment, which, according to Katharina Kucharowits (SPÖ), is currently not being implemented. Artists who want to come to Austria for award ceremonies, exhibitions or other events sometimes do not receive a visa, she said.
State Secretary Andrea Mayer was aware of the problem. It is not the primary responsibility of the cultural department. In contact with the Foreign Ministry, her department advocates for the artists. Henrike Brandstötter (NEOS) found the application important and correct. Austria handles this very strictly, she pointed out to business people who want to come to Austria. In contrast, Laurenz Pöttinger (ÖVP) could not identify any problems with the presentation of the works of art in galleries. Group colleague Rudolf Taschner saw no good reason for preferential treatment.
Building culture as a future topic
SPÖ culture spokeswoman Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek pointed out deficiencies in dealing with the architectural heritage in Austria. She called for a legal basis to increase the quality of building culture and a federal building culture law to implement the federal building culture guidelines (3507/A(E)). Henrike Böker (Greens) drew attention to land consumption. A migration from the town center to the surrounding outskirts can often be observed, she recalled the donut effect.
Building culture has become a topic of the future, said Mayer. This is a cross-sectional matter. Mayer referred to the implementation pact “Space for building culture – strengthening town and city centers and opening up space for building culture”. There will be additional positions in the field of building culture, she emphasized, which will create a center of excellence for building culture. Mayer saw the amendment to the Monument Protection Act, which is currently being assessed, as a milestone. Julia Seidl (NEOS) confirmed that building culture has become more important, but advocated that the positions should be better located outside of political dependency. Thomas Spalt (FPÖ) was critical of a federal building culture law. He spoke out in favor of building culture with common sense but against a policy of specifications in this cross-sectional matter. On the part of the ÖVP, Laurenz Pöttinger was against additional structures. Positions were created, he emphasized. Hans Stefan Hintner (ÖVP) reminded: Mödling has won the Baukulturgemeinde Prize.
Renovation of summit crosses
On the part of the FPÖ, cultural spokesman Thomas Spalt called for funds for the renovation, preservation and construction of summit crosses as part of Alpine culture and tradition (3669/A(E)). Johann Höfinger (ÖVP) showed understanding for summit crosses as cultural assets. Various groups have set these up in the past and he held them responsible for their preservation. Eva Blimlinger (Greens) also did not want to finance summit crosses with public money. From NEOS’s point of view, the Alps are already developed. Further construction of summit crosses is not justified for Brandstötter. If something were to be erected, it would be “better to have wind turbines than summit crosses,” Blimlinger agreed with her.
Expand trust office vera*
From NEOS’s point of view, the establishment of the trust office against harassment and violence in art, culture and sport vera* was an important and overdue step. Seidl therefore called for another trust office with a presence office to be created in western Austria (3646/A(E)). Mobile teams are planned. A good suggestion, but in the long term the NEOS thought a second position would make more sense. There was support from the SPÖ.
It was important for Mayer to make the offer better known throughout Germany. The trust emerged as a measure from the fairness process. According to Mayer, 90 cases were reported in the first year of operation, mostly women were affected. Irene Neumann-Hartberger (ÖVP) signaled her willingness to expand the position – but only after it has been established and announced. According to Blimlinger, it is still too early for another office.
Investment bond: Discussions are ongoing
Julia Seidl (NEOS) advocated using all available legal means to cover part of the expenses for state film funding. She referred to the “Investment Obligation” of the EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS). Seidl emphasized that the obligation could be extended by EU states to media service providers that target viewers in their territory but are established in another member state, provided the contributions are proportionate and non-discriminatory. She demanded that Austria extend the “investment obligation” to streaming services (3200/A(E)). According to Blimlinger, there are already discussions about this, but they are still at the beginning. A basis for investment bonds must first be created.
Support payments during the pandemic
Also on the agenda were reports from the Federal Minister for Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport on the disbursement of funds from the COVID-19 crisis management fund for August (III-1014 d.B.) and September 2023 (III-1040 d.B.). The reports, which have been unanimously acknowledged, show that payments for measures in art and culture have already been completed. (Culture Committee conclusion) kar/gla
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