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Kulturkampf in Senftenberg: Intendant Ris under pressure for AfD votes!
The director Daniel Ris of the Neue Bühne Senftenberg is not standing for re-election due to unclear reasons, which sparked concern and solidarity.
Kulturkampf in Senftenberg: Intendant Ris under pressure for AfD votes!
The cultural world in Senftenberg is turned upside down: Daniel Ris, the director of the Neue Bühne, will no longer be extended his contract, which runs until 2027. This decision caused a stir in Brandenburg's theater landscape. Many theater colleagues and the German Theater Association question the reasons for this measure and demand a transparent explanation. The directors of the Brandenburgische Bühnen are also surprised by the decision and have signed a joint statement in which they express their support for Ris LR Online reported.
Daniel Ris, who has been running the Neue Bühne for two years, has achieved impressive record occupancy rates during this time and received positive feedback from audiences and the press. In his approach, he sees theater education as an effective tool in the fight against right-wing extremist tendencies in the area of Senftenberg, a city where the AfD received 33 percent of the vote in the last European elections. The ongoing rumors about possible political influence do not seem to be tenable, but some actors are still raising questions, especially with regard to District Administrator Siegurd Heinze, who is suspected of having influence on the decision South German newspaper performs.
Solidarity and conflict
The solidarity among theater colleagues is growing noticeably. Ris appears overwhelmed by this support, but refrains from making public statements. Meanwhile, silence remains from the district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz and the city of Senftenberg, which have not yet given any reasons for the director's decision. The German Stage Association has also expressed irritation about the non-extension and is calling for a conversation to clarify the situation.
The current events surrounding Ris also raise larger issues of theater politics. In Germany, the structures of supervisory bodies in theaters are often politically influenced, which makes it difficult to control power and its abuse. The influence of political interests in the cultural sector is repeatedly discussed in research. The question of responsibility and the reaction mechanisms to such conflicts remains explosive night review shows.
A look into the future
With the upcoming state elections, a further strengthening result for the AfD is expected, which could further influence the dynamics within the cultural scene. Ris' commitment to seeing the theater as a cultural stronghold has brought him not only respect, but also challenges that go far beyond the Karl May Games. It remains to be seen whether the situation will ultimately change for the better for the director and the Neue Bühne.