Zurich rejects sweeping cuts to cultural funding in decisive vote
The Zurich Cantonal Council has voted against a plan to reduce funding for cultural services. Two separate motions to cut budgets were both rejected by a clear margin. The decisions followed a debate on the value of cultural spending and fair pay for workers in the sector.
The first proposal aimed to slash CHF 2.14 million from the Cultural Affairs Office budget. It was put forward by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). During discussions, Rochus Burtscher (SVP, Dietikon) argued that cultural workers should not receive indirect or direct wage increases.
Lejla Salihu (SP, Winkel) criticised the motion as a direct threat to cultural diversity. Livia Knüsel (Greens, Schlieren) stressed the need for fair working conditions in the arts. Meanwhile, Marc Bourgeois (FDP, Zurich) suggested a different approach: slowing the rate of cost growth rather than making outright cuts.
The council ultimately defeated the motion by 96 votes to 74. A second proposal, also from the SVP and FDP, sought to reduce the Culture Fund’s budget by CHF 2 million. This too was rejected by the same margin.
Hanspeter Hugentobler (EVP, Pfäffikon) noted that similar motions to cut cultural funding appear almost every year. No details were provided about who initially prepared the budget-cutting initiative.
Both motions failed after a decisive vote in the cantonal council. The Cultural Affairs Office and Culture Fund will retain their current funding levels. The debate highlighted ongoing tensions over public spending on culture and worker pay in Zurich.
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