Refurbishment of the House of Festival”: Costs explode in Leipzig!

Refurbishment of the House of Festival”: Costs explode in Leipzig!

The renovation of the former theater venue "Skala" at Gottschedstraße 16, which closed its doors more than a decade ago, is becoming a financial challenge for the city of Leipzig. Originally calculated to six million euros, the costs have now increased to dizzying 13 million euros, such as lvz.de reported. Cultural Office Head Tobias Kobe has confirmed that this sum will not be sufficient and that the construction project is faced with a likely building permit in September 2025.

A look into the past of the building shows that it has experienced a long history in 1882 as a company house "Metropol" since its opening and was known under various names. In the future, the “House of Festivals” will serve as a cultural hub in Leipzig and will be used by various groups, including the Jazzclub Leipzig and Dok-Filmwochen GmbH.

challenges in the city parliament

However, the construction costs are not the only hurdle. On June 20, city councilors brought amendments to the financing of the project, the l-iz.de Coincidental. The application calls for a securing of eight million euros for the film art house, which is considered an important part of the construction project. The Green City Councilor Anna Schneider-Kaleri in particular expressed concerns about the role of art and media in society. The political framework conditions seem to change as a result of new constellations, which is not exactly beneficial for cultural policy.

The increasing costs are fired by a variety of factors: in addition to fire protection and soundproofing requirements, identified damage to the building has now contributed to this development. The originally planned planning costs increase from 550,000 euros to 1.1 million euros. Mayor of Culture Skadi Jennicke made it clear that these applications are taken seriously and should be included in the planning.

Cultural cuts and uncertain political situation

While Leipzig's cultural scene is trying to master these financial challenges, growing energy costs and stagnating income also come into the equation. As mdr.de this leads to moderate cuts in the cultural area, which are not accepted without reluctance. Jennicke criticizes the attacks on identity -creating cultural institutions, while at the same time there is uncertainty in the city council that makes stable majority education difficult.

So Leipzig will continue to be confronted with the practical challenges of the “House of Festival” and with political turbulence in the city council. However, it is clear that the city attaches great importance to cultural development and adheres to the plans. The coming months will certainly show whether the enthusiasm for culture and art can actually overcome the financial hurdles.