The support measures during the pandemic have worked and prevented worse, writes Suisseculture. In the long term, however, it can be observed that the income of cultural professionals is continuing to fall and that the trend from 2016-19 is continuing.

Compared to other sectors, income levels in the cultural sector are very low. During the pandemic, politicians have worked to maintain cultural activities and minimized the loss of income with support measures. In general, incomes appear to be stabilizing at a (low) level comparable to the three years before the pandemic. However, if a longer period is considered - with reference to the earlier studies by Suisseculture Sociale on the income of cultural professionals - then, according to the umbrella organization, it can be stated that the income of cultural professionals tends to fall over the years.

Link to the study:
https://www.suisseculture.ch/uploads/media/default/179/FR_Ecoplan_Kulturschaffende_nach_der_Pandemie_20230620.pdf

At the members' meeting of the German Cultural Council, Roth explained that from next year, cultural institutions funded by the federal government will have to pay freelance artists at least a minimum fee for their services. The German Cultural Council has been calling for significantly higher remuneration for freelance artists for years. In some federal states (NRW, Brandenburg, Bremen and Saxony), so-called basic fees are already being prepared.

The German Minister of State for Culture has also once again announced a funding program "Excellent Orchestral Landscape Germany". Orchestras and ensembles can use the funding from the program to "implement projects on socially relevant topics". This year, projects that deal with issues of sustainability and the consequences of the climate crisis or promote diversity are to be supported. A total of 4.8 million euros is available for the program, and a project can be funded with up to 400,000 euros.

Cellist Patrick Demenga founded the Jahreszeiten-Konzerte in Blumenstein, which he directed from 1995 to 2015. From 2002 to 2006 he was artistic director of the cello festival Viva Cello in Liestal. He has been artistic director of the Meiringen Music Festival since 2005. He teaches at the Haute Ecole de Musique in Lausanne and at the Accademia di Musica di Pinerolo in Italy, among others.

Christine Lauterburg is a pioneer of new Swiss folk music and is now also at home as a singer and musician in pop, chanson and world music. She has been performing with the band Doppelbock for more than 20 years and has helped write Swiss music and cultural history with companions such as Cyrill Schläpfer, Hank Shizzoe, Michael von der Heide and Gardi Hutter.

Bänz Oester is one of the outstanding double bass players on the Swiss jazz scene. With his current main project The Rainmakers, he has been on tour in Switzerland, Europe and South Africa this year. He teaches at two universities, the Haute Ecole de Musique in Lausanne and the Musikakademie in Basel. His students include Colin Vallon, Andreas Schärer and Elina Duni.

The Tootard duo consists of the two brothers Hasan and Rami Nakhleh. They grew up stateless in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria and now live in Bern. Their music is a mixture of Southwest Asian disco beats, psychedelic rock, Arabic music and desert blues. They tour Europe, Canada, Japan and the Arab world and also play in the Palestinian autonomous area in the West Bank.

Annie Ruefenacht is behind the stage name Annie Aries. The Swiss-Filipino composer completed a Master's degree in Music and Media Arts at Bern University of the Arts (HKB). She has been teaching in the Sound Arts program at HKB since 2019. In her works, she creates minimalist sound textures and recurring rhythmic patterns that interweave organically. Her works have been presented at festivals in New York, San Francisco and Bern, among others.

Howard Griffiths has significantly shaped and developed the Orpheum Foundation over the past 23 years, the foundation writes in its press release. For example, the launch of the "Orpheum Supporters Orchestra", the commissioning of compositions and collaboration with international educational institutions such as the Juilliard School New York and Kronberg Academy were all initiatives of Howard Griffiths. During his tenure, 230 supporters benefited from the Orpheum's sponsorship concept. Not least among them is Oliver Schnyder, who describes his performance at an Orpheum concert with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under David Zinman as the start of his career.

In Oliver Schnyder, "a worthy successor has been found who will further develop the Orpheum sponsorship idea". Like Howard Griffiths, Oliver Schnyder performs internationally and at the same time has special ties to Swiss musical life. Oliver Schnyder will provide new impetus in the field of chamber music and intensify networking with other sponsoring institutions.

A "Cultural Agenda 2030" forms the basis for the city's cultural funding in the coming years. According to the press release, it is based on the four focal points "Cultural diversity", "Cultural participation", "Cultural space" and "Communication, network, cooperation". In connection with the 2030 cultural agenda and the 2030 sports concept, the city council is applying to parliament to extend the subsidy agreements for the years 2024 to 2026. The cultural institutions Südpol, Neubad and Kleintheater are to receive around CHF 6.75 million over the three years:

• Verein Südpol Luzern: Fr. 4,053,682 (loan and subsidy agreement)
• Verein Netzwerk Neubad: Fr. 1'468'728.- (user loan and subsidy agreement)
• Stiftung Kleintheater: CHF 1,230,000 (subsidy agreement)

The subsidy agreement with Konzerthaus Schüür was concluded earlier for the period 2022 to 2026 due to the conversion and renovation project. From 2027, all agreements with subsidy recipients in culture and sport are to be congruent again. This type of support for Lucerne's cultural institutions has been in place since 2001, and in the sports sector since 2003. These contractual arrangements over several years give the institutions the opportunity to plan and work for the longer term.

The City Council is supporting other cultural events and associations with around CHF 3.8 million between 2024 and 2026. In doing so, it is recognizing the high social significance. Contributions received: Verein Kunsthalle Luzern, Verein Fumetto, Stiftung Gletschergarten Luzern, Stiftung World Band Festival, Verein Lucerne Blues Festival and IG Kultur. For the first time, the city has drawn up subsidy agreements with the two umbrella organizations of the city's cultural organizations and sports clubs.

The revenue from the ticket tax remains an important source of funding for the promotion of culture and sport, writes the city. The B+A ticket tax is planned for spring 2024. The Education Directorate is thus presenting various possible solutions as to how the ticket tax can be relieved in the future in order to obtain more room for maneuver in the promotion of culture and sport and to drive forward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Culture and the 2030 Sport Concept.

The entire press release from the city: https://www.stadtluzern.ch/aktuelles/newslist/1957801

Kristiina Poska is currently Music Director of the Flemish Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Latvia. From 2006 to 2011 she was chief conductor of the Cappella Academica, from 2012 to 2016 Kapellmeister at the Komische Oper Berlin and in the 2019/20 season music director at the Theater Basel. Poska's latest recording of Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 1 and 7, released on Fuga Libera/Outhere, is the result of her collaboration with the Flanders Symphony Orchestra.

The Orchestre Français des Jeunes is the national youth orchestra of France, founded in 1982 by the Ministry of Culture. It consists of young musicians between the ages of 16 and 25. Poska succeeds Michael Schønwandt at the Orchestre Français des Jeunes, who has held the post since summer 2021.

The Léonie Sonning Prize has been awarded to composers, conductors, instrumentalists and singers since 1959. The first winner was Igor Stravinsky. Other recipients include Birgit Nilsson, Benjamin Britten, Arthur Rubinstein, Dimitri Shostakovich, Mstislav Rostropovich, Svyatoslav Richter, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Leonard Bernstein.

The flautist Emmanuel Pahud from western Switzerland began his musical studies at the age of six. He completed his studies in 1990 with the 1er Prix of the Paris Conservatory and continued his training with Aurèle Nicolet. He won 1st prize at the competitions in Duino, Kobe and Geneva. At the age of 22, Emmanuel Pahud was engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic as principal flute under Claudio Abbado, a position he still holds today. He also enjoys an extensive international career as a soloist and chamber musician.

According to a press release from Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Xavier Pfarrer completed his artistic and pedagogical training at Bern University of the Arts, majoring in piano. He completed his studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg with an Aspirantura in piano solo. This was followed by competition wins, prizes and concert tours in Europe, Russia and the USA. In Switzerland, he works as a pianist, teacher (Basel Music School), examiner, expert and course director (Kalaidos University of Music).

The ZHdK's PreCollege Music prepares prospective students optimally for admission to a Bachelor's degree program. It consists of a wide range of elective and compulsory modules in practice, theory and general music education and raises awareness of future studies and the professional realities of tomorrow.

According to the canton's press release, GGG Kulturkick, which is supported by the GGG Basel association, will now assume responsibility for all funding and advice for individual projects by creative artists up to the age of 30 on behalf of the canton. Responsibilities among the cultural funding agencies will thus be clarified and made more transparent. Young artists will have a clear point of contact for their applications and concerns. Projects that improve the framework conditions for youth culture can still be submitted to the Culture Department.

From 2024, GGG Kulturkick will have a total budget of just under CHF 600,000. It receives an annual state contribution of CHF 400,000 from the canton. The offer is substantially supported by GGG Basel, which is increasing its contribution to almost 200,000 francs. This not only strengthens the promotion of individual projects, but also allows the GGG Kulturkick office to be expanded, enabling it to improve its advisory, mediation and networking services.

More info:
https://www.bs.ch/nm/2023-ggg-kulturkick-als-anlaufstelle-fuer-junge-kulturschaffende-pd.html

The Codex Manesse was created in its basic form around 1300 in Zurich - presumably at the instigation of Rüdiger Manesse and his son Johannes, who wanted to compile Middle High German song poetry in all its variety of genres and forms. Several supplements were added until around 1340. The manuscript comprises 426 parchment leaves written on both sides. It contains the texts of 140 poets in around 6000 stanzas. More than half of the works have survived exclusively in this manuscript. The representative design of the Codex Manesse is also of outstanding artistic quality. The texts are preceded by 137 full-page miniatures in color: They show the poets in idealized form during courtly activities.

The Codex will be the focus of a festive event on September 19, 2023 to mark its inclusion in this list. Maria Böhmer, President of the German Commission for UNESCO, will give a welcoming address. Knut Zuchan, Head of the Unit for Multilateral Cultural Policy/UNESCO at the Federal Foreign Office, will present the certificate. This will be followed by three academic lectures on the outstanding cultural significance of the Codex Manesse.

At the end of October 2022, the Cantonal Council adopted the initiative "Yes to the cantonal anchoring of music education (music school initiative)" and thus instructed the Government Council to submit a music school law in line with the initiative.

According to the press release from the canton of Schwyz, the streamlined draft law now available clearly defines the tasks of the various bodies and institutions. The canton recognizes music schools, contributes to their costs (to the extent of 25 percent of the expenses for the salaries of school management and teaching staff) and makes corresponding specifications. The municipalities are responsible for providing music lessons and access to them. The recognized music schools must guarantee a minimum musical offer and promote musical education.

For example, the law sets out requirements regarding the training, employment and remuneration of music school teachers at recognized music schools. Only in this way is it possible for music schools to offer courses under comparable conditions and thus make it possible for children and young people throughout the canton to learn a special instrument or receive special support under similar conditions, even outside their local community.

More info:
https://www.sz.ch/kanton/medien-informationen/medienmitteilungen.html/8756-8757-8803-10391-10392/news/18759

A second prize went to Alexandra Bidi from France. Another second prize went to Lea Maria Löffler from Germany. No third prize was awarded. The American Gabriel Polinsky won first prize in the double bass category. The second prize and the audience prize went to Hongyiu Thomas Lai from Hong Kong. The third prize went to José Trigo from Portugal.

In the piano trio category, the Orelon Trio (Italy / Germany / Spain) won first prize and the audience award. A second prize went to the Amelio Trio from Germany. The Pantoum Trio from France won third prize. A total of 345 musicians from 41 countries and five continents applied. Of these, 215 musicians from 34 countries and four continents were invited to Munich following a pre-selection by four expert juries.

Ernst Waldemar Weber, born in 1922, was a Bernese primary school teacher, secondary school teacher of music, singer with a teaching diploma and concert diploma, choirmaster and organist, member of the music and dance project groups of the Bernese teacher training program and lecturer at the University of Bern, voice coach and speech teacher, according to biographical information from Synergie-Verlag.

After a six-year pilot project with extended music lessons in Muri near Bern, he was coordinator of the National Fund project "Better education with more music" from 1988 to 1992 with 50 experimental classes. As co-founder and long-standing secretary of the Swiss Conference of School Music SKSM and the Coordination of Music Education Switzerland KMS, he launched "Youth+Music" and the music festival of the same name; he was also instrumental in the creation of the article on music education in the new Federal Constitution. In 2000, he initiated the founding of the Parent-Child Singing Association, which he headed until 2007.

With regard to the topic of cultural participation and amateur culture in the dispatch, the Thurgau cantonal government states that amateur cultural associations are of great importance for coexistence and cultural diversity, particularly in rural areas. This importance is rightly acknowledged in the Cultural Message 2025-2028. It is important that these associations are supported in recruiting young talent, digital transformation and organizational development and that their volunteer work is recognized accordingly.

With regard to the demanded improvement in the income of cultural professionals, the Government Council writes that cultural professionals have opted for a professional field in which aspects such as self-realization or artistic and creative freedom are more important than financial compensation. This decision should be respected. In conjunction with the sharp increase in the number of cultural professionals, this leads to a lower salary level in the cultural sector.

The Government Council does not find the references to an alleged lack of equality entirely comprehensible. For example, the fact that more men than women work in certain cultural sectors and vice versa is not conclusive evidence of discrimination. Rather, such findings could also be the result of gender-specific differences in interests, and there is nothing wrong with that. Further, open-ended clarifications are therefore absolutely necessary before any measures are taken.

The Federal Council is requesting funding totaling CHF 1,001.9 million to implement the Confederation's cultural policy in the years 2025-2028. This corresponds to an average real growth of 0.2 percent compared to the 2024 budget.

More info: https://www.tg.ch/news.html/485/l/de/news/65698

Dominique Bircher is studying for a Master's degree in Music Pedagogy Classics at Bern University of the Arts (HKB). Her talent and determination won over the jury for the Thun Culture Prize: "Dominique Bircher's flute playing combines musical skill with a love of experimentation and a high level of personal commitment," says the Bern University of the Arts in a statement from the city of Thun.

Dominique Bircher is currently studying at the Bern University of the Arts with Adam Walker. She completed her bachelor's degree there with distinction in February 2023. She is a two-time first prize winner of the Swiss Youth Music Competition. In 2020, she won the position of 1st solo flute in the Youth Symphony Orchestra in Bern, with which she toured Italy as a soloist in the summer of 2022.