Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra faces funding challenges, establishes foundation to secure future

In order to ensure that the Gewandhaus Orchestra continues to be one of the world's leading orchestras in the future, the orchestra is looking for long-term financial support. With the help of many dedicated citizens, a foundation called 'Stiftung Zukunft Gewandhaus zu Leipzig' (Foundation for the Future of the Leipzig Orchestra) was announced at the concert on 24 May.

Founded under the Leipzig Civil Code and headquartered in Leipzig, the foundation was initiated by Prof. Andreas Schulz, the manager of the Gewandhaus, and the goal of the Stiftung Zukunft Gewandhaus zu Leipzig (Foundation for the Future of the Gewandhaus in Leipzig) is to make the financing of the cultural centre even more viable in the future.

In an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Andreas Schulz said that theatres are increasingly facing major challenges. Audiences are changing, as are the labor market and the demands placed on theatre concerts. Schulz said, "We may not be able to generate the usual income in the future, which we desperately need as a municipal institution, and the foundation will help."

In addition to funds from the city, the so-called 'circle of friends' and the 'sponsors' club', the foundation, which was set up by six private individuals, will be another pillar of the financial structure of the Gewandhaus. Schulz emphasizes: "We are very satisfied with the financial resources provided by the City of Leipzig as a sponsor of our organization. This money can be managed very well. However, additional projects, such as big names in the program or certain tours and music education projects, often present us with financial challenges. We can only do this if we get more support."

The foundation complements existing public funding and thus makes an important contribution to the preservation and further development of the Leipzig Gewandhaus concert hall and its orchestra.

The aims of the foundation will be realized primarily in projects in the following areas:

- Provision of a wide range of high-quality musical instruments for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Concert Hall, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy, and other organizations (including those that will become part of it in the future).

- National and international tours, in particular of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Choir, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Organists, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Chamber Orchestra.

- International and national cultural exchange programs (e.g. current collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra).

- Promotion of the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy, fostering cooperation with other national and international academies, and in particular the development of talented young musicians, including those from the Global South (South Africa, India, or similar countries).

- Nurturing young talent in the choir of the Leipzig Gewandhaus.

- Various educational programs at the Leipzig Gewandhaus as well as on orchestra tours.

- Commissioning various works for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Choir, Leipzig Gewandhaus Organist, Leipzig Gewandhaus Chamber Orchestra, and the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy.

- Promotion of composers of the Leipzig Gewandhaus.

- Special projects for the musical season (festivals, key themes, special concerts, choral, chamber music, organ, etc.).

- Multimedia (including audio/video streaming) and digital projects (including CDs, DVDs, and other image/sound carriers), in particular Gewandhaus broadcasts, in order to contribute to music education and the promotion of art and culture.

- Research projects, publications, exhibitions, digitization projects, and academic scholarships.

- Acquisition of historical artefacts (autographs, documents, museum artefacts, etc.).

- For the visual arts in the Gewandhaus and Gewandhausplatz (conservation, restoration of the existing visual arts/showroom with contextualized displays, acquisition of visual arts works for the forthcoming new showroom).

- Promotion of the establishment of the Gewandhausplatz in Leipzig.

- Promotion of investments in structural, digital, and technical measures for the square.

The Foundation's assets total 1.5 million euros (around 1.28 million pounds). However, the Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, Steffen Hildebrand, emphasizes that the Foundation does not aim to replace public funds, and that the long-term goal is to continually expand the Foundation. "If we are successful in this respect, it will be possible to steer our Gewandhaus through difficult economic times. We therefore welcome any support."