Joe Chialo resigns as Berlin’s culture senator amid growing backlash over budget cuts

Joe Chialo, Berlin’s Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, has stepped down in protest over deep and controversial budget cuts to the capital’s cultural sector. His resignation, announced on 2 May, comes after months of mounting criticism and concern from artists, institutions and the wider public over drastic reductions in cultural funding.

Chialo, a member of the conservative CDU and one of the few Black politicians holding ministerial positions at the state government level in Germany, said he could no longer support the new round of cuts, which he warned would “interfere significantly with existing plans and professional priorities” and could force the closure of some of Berlin’s most celebrated cultural institutions.

The proposed €130 million in cuts—nearly 12% of the annual cultural budget—have sent shockwaves through Berlin’s globally respected arts scene. While Chialo had reluctantly backed earlier savings as part of a shared responsibility to stabilize the city’s finances, he drew the line at further reductions that, in his words, “threaten the viability of key institutions known across Germany.”

A former music executive with Tanzanian roots, Chialo entered politics with a promise to modernize and diversify Berlin’s cultural landscape. His resignation underscores the growing tension between fiscal restraint and cultural sustainability—a debate resonating far beyond Germany.

Chialo noted that public debate had shifted from policy to personal attacks, making meaningful discourse increasingly difficult. “I entered politics to serve the city,” he said, “but when core goals can no longer be pursued within the given framework, it is time to step aside.”

Meanwhile, Berlin’s creative community continues to demand that culture not be sacrificed on the altar of austerity. The resignation of Chialo adds urgency to that call.

Vivian Asamoah