“Culture Euro” planned in the city of Salzburg
The Strategy Paper 2024 of the City of Salzburg goes well beyond the narrow concept of culture – and also brings into the discussion considerations for which political majorities are required. Because culture costs money – and so the strategy paper also calls for a culture surcharge for all tourist overnight stays.
“I think that the tourists who come to us also come for the culture. I think one euro per night is probably bearable,” says Deputy Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ), who is responsible for culture. “It can be a big revenue for the culture budget when the pandemic is over.”
Cultural strategy of the city of Salzburg presented
Booking platform for rooms planned
Because money is needed: for example, for fair remuneration of cultural workers – keyword “Fair Pay” – or more rehearsal rooms and their better use: “For example, as one of the first measures, we want a booking platform for rooms,” says Ingrid Tröger-Gordon, head of the Municipal Department of Culture. “Everyone who needs a space for a wide variety of activities should be able to look there: ‘What is there? On what terms can I rent this room?’ We want to tackle such measures right away.”
The culture is also becoming younger, more spontaneous and unpredictable, says Barbara Köstler-Schruf, project coordinator of the culture strategy: “There was a very strong desire to be able to realize something spontaneously – and it was also very low-threshold. So really having the opportunity to play theater for a short time, make music and so on.”
“500 participants” is working on a strategy paper
Many ideas and projects are deposited in the strategy paper, which are to be tackled either in the short or long term: “This is not a partisan paper,” emphasizes Auinger. “It comes from the broad spectrum of the population – over 500 participants were there. In this respect, it would also be wise to implement as much of this as possible politically.”
However, this requires majorities in the municipal council. And so the discussion is opened – also about individual ideas such as that the Mirabellplatz around the Andräkirche should no longer serve as a parking lot six days a week, but be used for a permanent Schranne, gastronomy and culture.