From 7 to 9 November 2025, the 65th General Assembly of the Akademie der Künste took place in Berlin. The Academy, an autonomous society of more than 400 international artists, focused on how it can continue to fulfil its legally enshrined mandate in the face of drastic budget cuts: to represent the freedom and the claim of art in state and society, to advise political decision-makers, to present contemporary artistic positions, and to preserve cultural heritage.
Image above: Akademie der Künste Berlin Pariser Platz, © Erik-Jan Ouwerkerk
In times of increasing historical amnesia and a growing right-wing radicalism, the Academy emphasises that cultural heritage must not be reduced to mere decoration of state representation. It embodies the values on which our democratic society is based – and must therefore be continually questioned, conveyed, and defended.
In an independent decision, the Academy adopted a concept to anchor its work on cultural memory and the mediation of artistic practice as a core mission at its Pariser Platz site. With this, it sets a clear signal for critical remembrance culture and against any form of political influence on art.
The experience of state interference – from the forced alignment of the Prussian Academy of Arts under National Socialism to the instrumentalisation of art in the GDR – remains part of the institution’s history. A memorial plaque at Pariser Platz commemorates 41 members who were expelled or forced to resign between 1933 and 1938 for political or antisemitic reasons. From this historical experience, the Academy is legally obliged to defend the freedom of art.
Today, it again sees this freedom under threat – through cultural policy efforts to impose programmatic directives and influence content. According to the Academy, the programmatic autonomy of cultural institutions is not a privilege, but a cornerstone of democracy.
Numerous renowned members took part in the assembly, including Peter Badel, Carola Bauckholt, Volker Braun, Aris Fioretos, Herbert Fritsch, Lena Gorelik, Nele Hertling, George Lewis, Jeanine Meerapfel, Ulrike Ottinger, Karin Sander, Wim Wenders and many others.
The Akademie der Künste currently has 414 members, and its archives hold more than 1,200 artistic estates. Since 2024, the composer Manos Tsangaris has served as President of the Academy, together with Anh-Linh Ngo, Vice President and architecture publicist. The next General Assembly will take place in May 2026.
WHEN?
65th General Assembly: 7–9 November 2025
WHERE?
Akademie der Künste
Pariser Platz 4
10117 Berlin
