Friday, 4 April
Berlin considers privatisation of state-run theatres
Berlin’s Department for Cultural Affairs is currently weighing a change in legal status for four of the city’s state-owned theatres: the Volksbühne, Deutsches Theater, Maxim Gorki Theater, and Theater an der Parkaue. According to a leaked email obtained by rbb, State Secretary for Culture Sarah Wedl-Wilson outlines the possibility of converting the theatres into non-profit limited companies (GmbH) or foundations.
Theatres like the Berliner Ensemble and Schaubühne already operate as GmbH, and according to the email, the state may be considering a similar model for the others- alongside potential mergers of theatre workshops, logistics and admin departments. Workers fear these changes could mark the end of their public sector contracts.
Roughly 1,100 employees at Berlin’s state theatres and Konzerthaus currently work under the standard public service wage agreement. None of their staff councils have been consulted so far. One employee told rbb they fear the changes are aimed at quietly removing them from public sector protections.
The Verdi union has criticised the lack of transparency, warning that job cuts and worsening working conditions could follow. Labour lawyer Sebastian Baunack says any transition out of public ownership would need to either honour existing contracts, be legislated by the Abgeordnetenhaus, or be formalised via a negotiated agreement with Verdi.
The Senate’s Culture Department hasn’t confirmed or denied the existence of the email, but says it’s still in an “open dialogue” with theatres. A follow-up meeting is planned next week between cultural institutions and Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU).
