Berlin’s finance minister Stefan Evers (46) will, after taking on the additional culture portfolio, likely frequent theaters, operas, and concerts more often than before — and for official duties. “I’ve always tried to avoid the red carpet and I’m happy to pay for my own tickets. But it seems likely that the frequency of my visits will rise in the near future,” said the openly gay CDU politician to the German press agency.
Privately, Evers has regularly made use of Berlin’s vibrant cultural offerings, but: “Too rarely given the opportunities. Once a month is about the norm.” He doesn’t have specific favorites — or won’t reveal them. “Ranking the Berlin cultural institutions is out of the question. From the Philharmonie to the BKA-Theater, each has its own kind of world-class appeal.”
Following the resignation of Berlin’s former culture minister Sarah Wedl-Wilson (nonpartisan) over a funding scandal, the governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) said last week that Evers would also head the Senate Department for Culture (TheColu.mn reported).
Marcy Ellerton
