Salme Talks: What Is the Role of Art? Conversations on the Freedom of Art and Culture

Cesy Leonard © Meike Kenn
This event is available in
German
Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Article 5 of the German Basic Law guarantees freedom of the arts, research, and teaching, as well as freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Unlike teaching, loyalty to the Constitution is not explicitly required of the arts. What does that mean? What does this mean in relation to the often-cited “artistic freedom”? Is it a free pass? Can art do anything—or must art even do so? Throughout history and in the present, art has always been—and continues to be—political. Art does not have to be neutral. Could it even be?
We’d like to discuss these highly compelling and highly topical questions with our guests and the audience at this year’s Salmengespräch.

We’re pleased to welcome Cesy Leonard to the panel. The performance artist was a member of the Center for Political Beauty and is the founder of the Radical Daughters, who aim to use performance art to “get people to stop complaining and start taking action.” The evening will be moderated by Juliane Langer.

Free for everyone
Adresse
Lange Straße 52
77652
Offenburg
+49 781 82 2701
Tarif
Free entry with the Museums-PASS-Musées
Dates
On 12 September 2026
Additional informations
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