Missions of the IKG
The IKG is a member of the German Arts Council and thus of the superordinate umbrella organisation, the German Cultural Council. This is an independent working group of cultural and media policy organisations and thus the umbrella organisation of the federal cultural associations. The German Cultural Council is the point of contact for federal, state and European Union politicians and administrators in all matters of cultural policy. The aim of the German Cultural Council is to stimulate discussion on issues affecting culture at all political levels and to advocate for freedom of art, publication and information. The Cultural Council has currently convened 8 expert committees to which the members, i.e. also the German Arts Council, send their representatives.
The IKG is currently involved in the following expert committees
Labour and Social Affairs: Ina Bierstedt
Education: Katja Hoffmann Wildner
Europe and International Affairs: Claudia Chaseling
Media: Matthias Lindner
Digitalization and artificial intelligence: Petra Spielhagen
In addition to the specialised committees, so-called ad hoc ags are convened for urgent issues, to which representatives of the member councils are delegated.
(For structure and topics, see www.kulturrat.de where you can also subscribe to the newsletter).
A flaming declaration of love for our democracy
Käthe Kruse, President of IKG in May 2024
All my life, I took our democracy for granted. Now I have to learn that this is not the case, that democracy can also be fragile, that we have to make a conscious decision in favour of it and actively stand up for it. We must not allow the right-wing fringe to lead opinion in our society. It is our duty to fight against it!
Let us remember what our western democracy guarantees us: Right to bodily integrity, equal treatment before the law, protection of our sexual identity, free elections, political opposition, separation of powers, constitutionality, protection of fundamental rights and civil liberties and respect for human rights, sanctity of human dignity, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of information, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of art, freedom of belief, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, the rule of law, independence of the courts and so on.
All of this is great and is exercised by us, the general public. And I’m not indifferent, it’s important to me that it stays that way. And I ask myself, what can I do personally, what can we all do together for our democracy, for our freedom?
Do not shy away from conflict and seek dialogue with people who think differently. Show a willingness to compromise. Spreading enthusiasm, passion and optimism. Acquiring political knowledge to form a political opinion. Engage in political discourse and develop a fighting spirit. Showing loyalty, courage, tolerance, solidarity and fairness. I love our democracy. Forever and ever: real democracy in Germany, Europe and the whole world!
first publication: International Fräulein, issue 2, 2018
The International Artists‘ Panel is highly concerned about the cultural policy developments in Slovakia.
Since taking office in October 2023, the Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová, who was appointed to the Fico government by the right-wing nationalist party SNS (Slovak National Party), has been responsible for a politically motivated reorganisation of previously democratic and internationally oriented cultural institutions.
Šimkovičová recently dismissed Matej Drlička, the director of the National Theatre, and on the following day the director of the National Gallery, Alexandra Kusá. Both dismissals were completely unprepared, with no prior discussions and no reasons given. Šimkovičová subsequently made the accusation of mismanagement – an accusation that could not be substantiated by anything and which completely contradicts the success of both. At the same time, she replaced experts on the Advisory Board for Cultural Promotion with political actors. Her interventions in the cultural sector are characterised by nationalistic thinking and violate democratic behaviour. Many institutions fear for their existence and for their independent work in an international context.
The IKG was founded during the Cold War. An important goal was to maintain cultural bridges between East and West during this time. This time seemed long forgotten, but current developments in Slovakia make the original aim of the IKG sadly relevant.
We stand up for the freedom of art, for international exchange and a democratic cultural sector. With this in mind, we support the protests against the synchronisation of cultural institutions in Slovakia. We want to continue to work together with artists and with the country’s internationally active cultural institutions.
Claudia Beelitz, 20 August 2024
Protest notes against the current Slovakian cultural policy on the fence of the National Gallery Bratislav 2024, photos: Ina Bierstedt
Statement on Ukraine War
Dr. Dorothée Bauerle-Willert, former President of the IKG, 1 March 2022
The IKG is shocked by Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine. Our solidarity is with the people in Ukraine and Russia who are fighting for peace, artistic freedom, democracy and human rights.
War, which never left, is now back in the middle of Europe, and the foundations of the always fragile world order are threatened. The unthinkable has now actually happened. Let us hope with Ukraine and all people on its side that the war can be defeated as soon as possible, that death, destruction and immeasurable suffering may end.
Statement on Belarus
For the IKG: Dr. Dorothée Bauerle-Willert, President, 16 Aug 2020
IKG – International Committee of Artists The International Artists Forum/IKG is appalled and shocked by the unprecedented excesses of violence by the Belarusian security apparatus after the election Sunday on August 9 2020. Thousands of people were arrested, inhumanely treated and maltreated in captivity – since then there has been no trace of many of them.
Despite the brutal violence and arbitrary arrests of more than 7000 people thus far, with which the autocratic president of Belarus has reacted to the peaceful protests against his re-election, people are overcoming their fear and proving that the desire for freedom can no longer be suppressed, in a civil movement that is very broad by now. For decades, freedom of speech, art and press was suppressed in Belarus. Today, the people who were not allowed to say what they want for 26 years are demonstrating. As a reaction to this self-empowerment, resistance is being silenced, killed. Only with the means of his repressive police state does Aljaksandr Lukaschenka still hold on to power.
The freedom of art, which the IKG advocates, has always been the measure of democratic freedom. Human dignity, culture, an open society and democracy are closely linked. The confiscation of entire collections, the blocking of the Internet, the suppression of free, even artistic, creativity are symptoms of barbaric narrow-mindedness, with the fear of humane potential breathing down their necks. Today,
when many of the brave demonstrators wear the confiscated painting EVA by Chaim Sutin on their T-shirts, art becomes visible as a persistent analogy to freedom: in art, the possibility of self-realization crystallizes into form. The Belarusians can no longer be deceived and intimidated.
The IKG supports the democracy movement in Belarus and the demand for the resignation of Alexander Lukashenka. We condemn the violence and the suppression of human rights and appeal to those in power to recognize the signs of the times, to end the repression and to finally make free, fair and transparent elections in Belarus possible.
Video from the film maker Jurij Chaschtschewatski to Klaus Steak, 16 Aug 2020
The International Artists Forum IKG supports the network ARC AtRiskArtists, which campaigns for the interests of art actors worldwide. More and more artists are not allowed to work freely due to the political or social situation in their countries. They risk their livelihood or even their existence, are persecuted or raped. Many are on the run or imprisoned or are not allowed to leave their country. Covid 19 also exacerbates this situation, with several governments using the pandemic to reinforce authoritarian, illiberal structures.
Please check out this important page: https://artistsatriskconnection.org/guide