Let's not kid ourselves: Many people see cultural policy as a luxury - a fair-weather project and a playground for do-gooders. Some would reduce it to fighting over and doling out ever-shrinking theater, museum and orchestra budgets.

In the world of grand political solutions, cultural policy is often at the bottom of the list of priorities. People with backgrounds in cultural policy are rarely elected chancellor. And throughout their political careers, culture ministers have to yield right of way to foreign, interior, finance and defense experts. That's unfair and also a disadvantage for the state - especially in times like ours.

http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-the-benefits-of-a-cultural-policy/a-19307352