Summer festival in the Hofgarten: Obelisk fights for Potsdam's cultural heritage!

Summer festival in the Hofgarten: Obelisk fights for Potsdam's cultural heritage!

The Potsdam cabaret Obelisk celebrated its traditional summer festival in the Hofgarten last weekend, and it was a true celebration of sophistication and conviviality. Chairwoman of the support association “Friends of the Potsdam Cabaret Obelisk e.V.”, Dorothea Schüttmund, opened the event with an urgent appeal for the importance of financial support for the local cultural scene. In view of the tense financial situation, it is more important than ever to promote culture through memberships and donations, said Schleifmund.

The summer festival not only offered a platform for obtaining necessary funds, but also an exciting cultural program. The regular members of the cabaret, Andreas Zieger, Helmut Fensch, Bella Liere and Lutz Andres, captivated the guests with samples from their pieces “Merz also has beautiful days” and “Better sex after six than five to twelve”. They also sang musical highlights ranging from the Beatles to Andrea Berg. The performance was particularly amusing Thomas Nicolai from Leipzig, who made viewers laugh with his “Boomer Comedy” and on June 20, 2025 with his new program “Mit Alles! Extrascharf!” will appear again in the Hofgarten.

Support for cultural preservation

The support association's most recent financial achievements included the purchase of a new lighting system and an electric piano. A cake bazaar during the festival provided additional funds. A special fundraising campaign is also interesting: Anyone who donates 200 euros for a new chair will see their name immortalized on the backrest - a wonderful way to express their connection to the theater.

The support association was founded in 1991 and has set itself the goal of supporting the important work of cabaret in Potsdam's cultural landscape. It not only finances technical equipment, but also ensures that new productions from the in-house ensemble are regularly brought to the stage. Members also enjoy benefits such as early access to tickets and reduced entry prices for their companions. The membership can be applied for at any time in order to preserve Potzdam's cultural diversity.

Support across the board

The importance of cultural funding is also recognized at the national level, as a study of the federal government's arts and culture funding shows. This focuses on supporting institutions and projects of national relevance and thus strengthens the country's cultural identity. The preservation of important cultural monuments and buildings is actively promoted, and the Potsdam Summer Festival and its cultural initiatives also benefit from these efforts.

The Hofgarten, which has served as a summer cabaret venue for almost 30 years, remains an important element of Potsdam's cultural scene. Events take place in the months from June to August when the weather is nice. The commitment of the support association and the entire commitment of the artists ensure that the Hofgarten remains a place of encounter and artistic exchange in the future.