BSW on culture and media

The BSW wants a parliamentary study commission (Enquete-Kommission) to examine whether public broadcasters report objectively and independently of government. The program cites accusations of one-sided coverage of COVID and the Ukraine war. The commission should also propose ways to strengthen diversity of opinion.

The BSW wants public broadcasters to be checked. The state parliament should set up a commission. It should check if the broadcasters report fairly. The BSW thinks coverage of COVID and Ukraine was one-sided.

The commission should suggest how to strengthen political pluralism and dialogue between media and audiences. Citizen-run media should also be strengthened. The BSW says it rejects bans on thought and speech and will not tell anyone whether to use gender-inclusive language. It opposes restrictions on press freedom and the use of broadcasters for party-political purposes.

The BSW wants to give students a culture card granting free entry to cultural institutions and rejects further cuts to cultural spending. The program sees support for culture as support for democracy.

Students should get a culture card. With it, they get into museums and theaters for free. The BSW does not want to cut money for culture. Rural areas should also have good culture. Artists should have fair working conditions.

The culture card is modeled on guest cards used in tourist regions, and transport services to cultural venues are to be subsidized. High-quality cultural offerings should also be available in rural areas. Theaters, orchestras, festivals, the independent scene and community cultural centers are to be strengthened, and the program calls for fair, non-discriminatory working conditions for artists. Further goals include linking schools with cultural and sports institutions, strengthening youth art and music schools, helping churches preserve historic buildings, and funding memorial sites and youth projects.

The BSW wants to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue and understanding between nations, especially in times of war. Partnerships, youth exchanges and local peace initiatives are also to receive state support.

The BSW wants people from many countries to understand each other better. This matters especially in times of war. Town partnerships should continue. Youth exchanges should grow. The state should support towns' peace projects.

Town and regional partnerships and exchanges of youth groups, scientists, civil society and business associations are to be maintained and promoted. A European youth campus, based on an idea from the Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach, is to bring young people from across Europe to Thuringia. Initiatives such as "Cities of Peace" or "Mayors for Peace" should receive support at the state level. Projects serving peacekeeping and mutual understanding are to be funded.