Altenburger Land receives 1.3 million euros for a cultural project!

Altenburger Land receives 1.3 million euros for a cultural project!

Great joy in the Altenburger Land: The project “Stadt.Land.Kult(o)ur – demokraTISCH” has been awarded the contract for nationwide funding as part of the “Aller.Land” program. This means that around 1.3 million euros will flow into the region in the coming years, with the aim of strengthening cultural commitment and social participation in rural areas. District Administrator Uwe Melzer sees the positive decision from the jury as valuable recognition for the comprehensive cultural network in the Altenburger Land. “We have succeeded in creating a creative home for all citizens,” he emphasized after the decision was announced in Berlin on June 18, 2025.

The “Aller.Land” program aims to promote cultural participation and thus strengthen democracy in rural regions. A total of 30 regional cultural initiatives were selected that can count on federal support. Among other things, mobile campaigns are to be organized in Altenburger Land, which will also reach remote places in the region and reach a wide audience. The central formats are the “PoliTISCH” and the “Altenburger Tisch”, which are intended to bring people from diverse backgrounds and age groups together.

Strengthening culture and community

As part of the program, cultural hubs are developed that serve as creative meeting places for participatory projects. This includes workshops, artistic impulses and discussion groups that promote democratic participation. Education and Culture Minister Christian Tischner also speaks of the creative potential that can be particularly developed in rural regions. “With these initiatives we are creating new spaces for dialogue and exchange,” he says, emphasizing the importance of co-financing by the state of Thuringia, which accounts for 10 percent.

The “Stadt.Land.Kult(o)ur” initiative is not alone: ​​the “Kulturbogen Art Lab – Creative Meeting Points” project is also being supported in the Wartburg district. In a similar way, cultural participation should be promoted through interactive workshops and art projects. This shows that the federal government will invest heavily in cultural work in rural areas in the coming years. A total of over 69 million euros is available for the “Aller.Land” program until 2030.

A look into the future

The program started in 2023 and is aimed specifically at structurally weak regions in Germany. 97 regions were already able to take part in the first funding phase, in which each region received 40,000 euros for the development phase. In the first half of 2025, the 30 regions were selected that could test their concepts by mid-2030. It is a real opportunity for people in these areas to actively shape their living environments and change them for the better with creative ideas.

“We would like to thank everyone involved and look forward to the diverse projects that will emerge in the next few years,” summarizes District Administrator Melzer. There is great anticipation for the upcoming events and activities, and cultural life in Altenburger Land is facing exciting times.