Stephan Frucht im Salon Schinkelplatz: „Berlin ohne Kultur ist wie Kuwait ohne Öl“

Professor Stephan Frucht is a conductor, musician, cultural manager, and head of the Siemens Arts Program. He moves with equal ease in concert halls and boardrooms and is considered one of the most important bridge-builders between business, science, and culture in Germany. In the Salon Schinkelplatz, host Manuel Koch discusses with him the question: How much culture can and should we afford? Frucht makes it clear early on: "What kind of society can we imagine without art and culture?" For him, it's not just about budgets and subsidies, but about the intellectual foundations of an open society. He defends Germany's cultural diversity: "The question isn't whether we can afford culture, but whether we want it." He is particularly emphatic when referring to Berlin: "Berlin without culture is like Kuwait without oil." Culture, alongside science, is our most important resource. Frucht also speaks at length about education and the promotion of young talent. He is convinced: "The best thing you can do is give children access to aesthetic education." Music and art shape people, foster discipline, and open up new perspectives. That's why he even asks about childhoods in job applications: "Why have people kept the first twenty years of their lives a secret?" The conversation becomes particularly poignant when considering the situation of many artists. According to studies, the average annual income is only around €12,000. At the same time, Frucht calls for more personal initiative: "Artists are entrepreneurs. You have to take care of everything – including your own brand." The role of artificial intelligence, private cultural funding, and the responsibility of large corporations are also discussed. Frucht sees culture not as a luxury, but as an investment in creativity and social cohesion: "If you cut off art and culture, you also cut off the creative lifeblood that keeps a society alive." The full talk by Salon host Manuel Koch and more information about Salon Schinkelplatz can be found at https://www.salon-schinkelplatz.de We thank the Siemens Arts Program: https://www.siemens.com/de-de/company... Real Values: Salon Schinkelplatz is supported by https://www.proaurum.de Manuel Koch's attire was provided by https://brummer-berlin.de Key quotes from Prof. Stephan Frucht: "What kind of society can we imagine without art and culture?" "If, in the end, right-wing yogurt culture is the only thing left, life will be poorer." "The question is not whether we can afford culture, but whether we want it." "Berlin without a Senator for Culture is like Kuwait without an Oil Minister." "The intellectual foundations of a society are just as important as the natural ones." "Cutting back on education is always wrong." ``` "There's always enough money. It just always belongs to someone else." "The best thing you can do is give children access to aesthetic education." "If everyone played a musical instrument, perhaps we'd need fewer prisons." "Why did people keep the first twenty years of their lives secret?" "Artists are entrepreneurs." "Artistic ability alone is no longer enough." "You have to develop your own brand." "I believe more in the opportunities of AI than in its risks." "You can't force people—you have to inspire them." "Most people want to create, not manage." "If you cut off art and culture, you also cut off the creative lifeblood of a society." "A cultural and aesthetic education is essential for a socially competent person." "Reducing the cultural debate to money is unproductive." "The real question is: What kind of life do we want to lead?" "I believe in the opportunities of AI rather than its risks." The full talk with Salon host Manuel Koch and more information about Salon Schinkelplatz can be found at https://www.salon-schinkelplatz.de Real Values: Salon Schinkelplatz is supported by https://www.proaurum.de Manuel Koch's outfit was provided by https://brummer-berlin.de 👇🏻 Subscribe to our YouTube channel now 👇🏻    / @insidewirtschaft   MANUEL KOCH 📺 TV Journalist 👱🏻‍♂️ CEO 🎥 Producer 📷 Instagram:   / manuelkochtv   🎭 Facebook:   / manuel-koch-1918657995022408   🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/manuel_koch ►► LinkedIn:   / manuel-koch-b2697981   INSIDE ECONOMY 🖥 Online Channel https://inside-wirtschaft.de 🎥 Interviews 🎤 Media Training 🤵🏼 Event Moderation 📷 Instagram:   / insidewirtschaft   🎭 Facebook:   / insidewirtschaft   🐦 Twitter:   / iwirtschaft   Risk Warning: https://inside-wirtschaft.de/risikohi...