The Wredow Art School in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany's largest art school in the state of Brandenburg, has been forced to suspend operations due to a severe financial crisis stemming from a landmark court ruling. The institution, which was scheduled to begin its new academic year on September 1st, now faces a 50,000 euro budget shortfall that has left classrooms empty and students uncertain about their artistic education.
The financial crisis originated from the so-called Herrenberg ruling, a Federal Social Court decision from June 2022 that mandates art, music, and other educational institutions to provide social benefits to their instructors. Previously, these schools allowed instructors to handle their own pension, healthcare, and other social contributions from their hourly wages. However, following a successful lawsuit by a piano teacher against the Herrenberg Music School in Baden-Württemberg, the legal landscape changed dramatically.
Klaus Lietze, the school's commercial director, explained the impact of the new regulations on the institution's finances. "Our instructors previously received between 23 and 28 euros per hour, and now they earn 25 to 29 euros gross. We must add our employer contribution on top of that," Lietze said. This additional burden amounts to approximately 50,000 euros annually, creating an insurmountable financial gap for the foundation-supported institution.
Unlike the city-owned Volkshochschule and Bülow Music School, the Wredow Art School operates as an independent foundation funded through donations and course fees. To address the shortfall, the school has doubled its course fees, moving from 400 euros for 80 instructional hours to rates that place them in the middle range for Brandenburg state institutions. "We were previously at the lower end of fees in the state. Now we're in the middle range," Lietze noted, though he acknowledged uncertainty about how prospective students will respond to the increased costs.
Tobias Öchsle, the school's director and artistic leader, described the challenging situation facing both students and faculty. "Participants want to know when classes will begin," he said, while expressing concern that instructors might seek employment elsewhere during the prolonged uncertainty. The school employed nine instructors during the 2024/25 academic year, all of whom now face an unclear future as the institution remains in limbo.
City officials have recognized the cultural importance of the Wredow Art School and pledged support for its survival. Alexandra Adel, the deputy mayor responsible for education, emphasized the school's vital role in the community. "Art schools provide a space where children and young people can discover and develop their artistic abilities, allowing their imagination and creativity to flourish under professional guidance," she said, also referencing the associated Sonnensegel Youth Art Gallery.
Adel further highlighted the school's broader cultural significance, stating that such institutions "contribute to cultural diversity and the cultural life of the city." She noted that the Wredow Art School offers programs for adults and houses the valuable Wredow Art Collection, which continues to serve as a cultural treasure for the region.
The city has already increased its annual subsidy to the art school from 39,000 euros to 71,000 euros in 2024, demonstrating its commitment to preserving this educational institution. Additionally, the school receives funding from the Cultural Ministry and the Association of Music and Art Schools, creating a network of support for arts education in the region.
Despite having completed financial calculations for the new academic year and being prepared to commence operations, the school faced additional setbacks when both city and state authorities reduced their cultural spending allocations. However, both levels of government have since promised to restore funding through emergency assistance measures.
The city has announced plans to transfer 26,600 euros to help bridge the funding gap, while the school hopes to receive a similar amount from the state government, which has already indicated its willingness to provide support. Until these promised funds are actually received and deposited, the creative activities that typically fill the rooms at Wredowplatz will remain suspended, leaving Germany's largest state art school in an unprecedented state of uncertainty about its future operations.
