Cultural Diversity in Germany

In Germany, the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions is a basis of the cultural policy of the federal, state and local governments. They are structured in the German system of cultural promotion and encourage the participation of civil society actors at all levels.

Germany's cultural wealth is based on the diverse, historically grown cultural landscapes in the various regions. In an international comparison, Germany has a particularly dense network of publicly funded cultural institutions and broad international cultural offerings, not only in urban agglomerations, but also in smaller cities and in rural areas.

Germany was one of the co-initiators of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in order to enshrine these principles of publicly promoted cultural policy internationally under the conditions of progressive trade liberalisation. The overall aim is to ensure the free development of art and culture and to allow all citizens access to it.

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