German cultural leaders launch Bauhaus Manifesto to defend artistic freedom

On August 20, Wolfram Weimer, Germany's Minister of State for Culture, presented the Bauhaus Manifesto 2026, framing it as a pledge to uphold the Bauhaus school's historic values of artistic liberty, interdisciplinary exchange, and democratic contribution. The accompanying statement positions the manifesto as a cultural and sociopolitical commitment, urging societies to protect these ideals from any anti-democratic forces.

A diverse group of signatories—ranging from the German Cultural Council and the German Commission for UNESCO to the German Bishops' Conference and the German Museums Association—endorsed the document. Though the AfD is not explicitly mentioned, the manifesto is interpreted as a rebuttal to the party's portrayal of the Bauhaus as a "misguided aberration of modernity" and its push for a patriotic cultural policy. Supporters stress that the Bauhaus's history of Nazi persecution underscores the importance of cultural remembrance for democratic self-understanding.

They call for strengthened Bauhaus institutions, defended creative freedom, and resistance to nationalist cultural hostility. The declaration seeks to reinforce Germany's cultural openness and innovation in the face of growing political extremism.