High losses: Theater Erfurt also slashes its program
Theater Erfurt has announced that it will be making various savings in the coming year in response to the theater's financial difficulties. The one million euro spending freeze imposed by the city is to be offset by reducing expenditure on temporary staff, among other things. This was announced by the theater on Wednesday. In addition, insurance for machinery is to be suspended for a year. There will also be one less premiere in the 2024/25 schedule.
"With the aforementioned measures to deal with the imposed spending freeze, the Erfurt Theatre is working hard to minimize expenditure," the statement continued.
So far this year, the deficit has amounted to around three million euros. The city, as the responsible body, therefore imposed the spending freeze for 2024. This year's Domstufen-Festspiele was significantly less well attended than expected, according to the theater. This alone resulted in a loss of around one million euros. Higher wages for employees and increased costs also contributed to the deficit.
According to the city, it is providing an additional 770,000 euros for the theater this year. From 2025, higher subsidies from the state and city have been agreed in the new theater contract. This will enable a balanced budget, according to the theater.
The theater is run by the city itself. The venue under the management of artistic director Guy Montavon is currently also facing allegations of alleged sexual assault and abuse of power.
The Theater Erfurt is exploring ways to cut costs in the arts sector, such as temporarily suspending machinery insurance and reducing the number of premieres in the upcoming season, due to financial challenges. In an effort to alleviate the one million euro spending freeze imposed by the city, the theater is reevaluating its use of temporary staff and other expenditures.
Source: www.dpa.com
