Bauhaus-Manifest launched to defend artistic freedom in Germany

A broad coalition of cultural institutions, religious organizations, and professional associations has released the ‘Bauhaus-Manifest 2026’ to defend artistic freedom and the legacy of the Bauhaus school. The initiative, led by Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, comes in response to the AfD’s political platform in Sachsen-Anhalt, which labels the Bauhaus an ‘erroneous path of modernity’ and proposes cutting funding for the institution in Dessau.

The manifest emphasizes that the Bauhaus represents innovation, transnational networking, and openness. Signatories, including the Academy of Arts, the German Council of Culture, the German Conference of Bishops, and the Evangelical Church in Germany, argue that the autonomy of artistic institutions is a fundamental requirement for a healthy democracy. The document also draws parallels to the historical persecution of the Bauhaus by the Nazi regime, calling for a commitment to democratic values and cultural preservation against populist attacks.