In the course of passing the budget for the years 2025/26, the Cologne City Council has approved the complete elimination of municipal funding for the Academy of the Arts of the World (ADKDW) starting in 2026. This removes the financial basis for the continued existence of the institution in its current form. As a result, the council voted to liquidate the ADKDW.
At the same time, an amendment was passed, which proposes that the ADKDW, together with the municipal administration, examine possible options for continuing its transcultural work – but without financial support from the City of Cologne. This examination will be carried out in coordination with the city's cultural office and investment management.
Consequently, it is certain that the ADKDW would have to be realized without municipal funding in the future. In the coming months, a thorough examination will be carried out to determine whether and in what form a viable alternative can be developed under these circumstances that will enable the ADKDW to continue to provide artistic, scientific and socio-political impetus in the city of Cologne.
The ADKDW would like to express its appreciation of the efforts of its partners, cultural workers and artists, and their valuable contribution in the past twelve years, as well as the support provided to the institution in the recent months.
