Schwerin (dpa/mv) – After school authorities and companies, cultural institutions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are now also to receive state aid to cover their energy costs. As the Ministry of Science and Culture announced on Thursday in Schwerin, applications can be made via an online portal. The federal government is providing a total of up to one billion euros for the aid program, while Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is supplementing the federal aid with 3.3 million euros from the hardship fund. “The federal and state aid noticeably relieves cultural institutions,” said Secretary of State for Culture Susanne Bowen with certainty.

According to them, the federal government covers 80 percent of the additional energy costs for private cultural institutions such as cultural associations. Municipal cultural institutions received 50 percent. The country then increases this aid. Theaters, concert halls, cinemas, museums or libraries as well as organizers of individual events are eligible to apply. The funding runs retroactively from January 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.