The concept has its origins in the French cultural policy of decentralisation under Culture Minister André Malraux in the early 1960s. The Council of Europe and UNESCO took up this approach of ‘animation socioculturelle’ and popularised it. Sociocultural work includes practices and activities aimed at promoting social connections, individual self-fulfilment and social solidarity.

Rooted in the tradition of adult education, it seeks to enable everyone to access culture, express themselves and play an active role in shaping their own social environment.

It is therefore no coincidence that this socio-cultural field of practice has developed organisationally independent of direct state influence and control, within its own, largely self-governing structures. It is not unlike the commitment of the middle classes or the labour movement in the 19th century, which, in contrast to feudal society, created their own cultural and educational institutions.

This act of cultural emancipation was directly linked to the democratic movements of that time – in fact, it was itself an act of democratic self-empowerment and autonomy.

This is because the funding made available by the federal government ultimately results in a funding rate of just 16.7 percent. This is disappointing for the many projects and their participants who aim to use this funding to enable greater cultural participation.

In 2025, the Fonds Soziokultur's funding portfolio comprised four programme pillars: the General Project Funding, U25 – Young Culture Initiatives, Cultural Bridge for bilateral projects with the United Kingdom, and the Profile: Socioculture transformation programme. The latter pillar, which has so far supported socio-cultural institutions in their internal and external transformation processes, cannot be continued in 2026 due to a cut in federal funding. This is a bitter disappointment for the fund’s recipients.

On the other hand, the additional support for young cultural initiatives is encouraging. The socio-cultural sector’s call for self-determination and democratic standards can be achieved even more effectively – particularly for the younger generation – through a one-off special grant from the federal government in 2026 for the U25 funding programme, amounting to 300,000 euros.

The Fonds Soziokultur would like to thank the Minister of State for Culture and Media Dr Weimer, for this support. Our thanks also go to the Members of the Bundestag who are supporting the Fund during these difficult times. We would like to thank the staff of the Federal Government’s Department of Culture for their constructive cooperation, as well as all those who support the Fonds Soziokultur and work for it, either professionally or on a voluntary basis, in the Administrative office, on the Executive Board and on the Board of Trustees.

Kurt Eichler
Chairman of the Executive Board Fonds Soziokultur e.V.