The SPD parliamentary group in North Rhine-Westphalia is demanding information from the ruling black-green coalition about the future of the Grimme Institute. The respected institute in Marl is in crisis because the budget of around three million euros was exceeded by 323,000 euros last year and is expected to be 430,000 euros this year. The institute’s shareholders also include the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with ten percent, which bears 80 percent of the costs; the largest shareholder is the German Adult Education Association with 40 percent. NRW has made up the deficit at Grimme for 2023, but does not want to do that again in 2024. Instead, the financial imbalance should be resolved, but how that has not yet been decided. The employees want to forego their wage increase in 2024, but are also demanding that the shareholders make a contribution to Grimme’s future. A hundred prominent filmmakers wrote an open letter calling for the important institute to be adequately equipped. In addition, the future leadership is unclear: the term of office of Grimme director Frauke Gerlach, who has headed the institute since 2014, ends on April 30th – a few days before, on April 26th, the renowned Grimme Prizes will be awarded for the 60th time. Gerlach’s successor is apparently still completely open. The Grimme Online Award, which is important for young productions, may not take place at all this year.
Since when did the government know about the imbalance?
In a small inquiry to the state government, the SPD wants to know, among other things, how long Grimme’s financial difficulties have been known and whether the state has made additional funding commitments to maintain the institution. The SPD also wants to know how the state government assesses the work of the Grimme Research College and how many funds from the Grimme Institute’s budget have flowed into the joint research facility at the University of Cologne since 2015, from which the institute has benefited little. “We want clarity about how important it is to the state to secure the future of the Grimme Institute beyond the pure area of media awards,” said deputy SPD parliamentary group leader Alexander Vogt. Finally, the state government describes the institute itself as an important part of the media and cultural landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond. “Just concentrating on the media awards and the award ceremonies is not enough,” said Vogt. There are many media topics where the institute can offer valuable guidance or initiate debates. These included the reform of public broadcasting or the quality discussion in view of changing usage habits as well as the challenges of digitalization. “The voice of the Grimme Institute is urgently needed here,” said Vogt.