Federal government increases funding

More money for the Klagenfurt Municipal Theater

To ensure that things not only flourish in front of the theater, but that productions also thrive, the funds for the Klagenfurt temple of music are being increased with additional federal funding.

(Bild: Helge Bauer Stadttheater Klagenfurt)

Stadttheater Klagenfurt, which is not only an important cultural institution in Carinthia as a multi-genre theater, but also a major employer, will receive around 1.39 million euros in additional federal funding per season. 

"In the negotiations for the 2024 financial equalization, we were able to increase the federal government's special-purpose subsidy for the regional and municipal theaters that belong to the Bühnenverein by a total of around ten million euros," explained Governor of Carinthia Peter Kaiser on Sunday. For the Klagenfurt Municipal Theater, this means an increase in funding of around 1.39 million euros per season.

Theater as an employer

The Stadttheater Klagenfurt puts on more than 200 performances each season. The team comprises around 270 permanent employees and 90 guests, the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra and the Stadttheater choir. Sets and scenery are produced exclusively in the in-house workshops, in the costume department, carpentry, metalwork, painting and make-up.

To date, the Stadttheater Klagenfurt has received almost three million euros from the federal government; this sum has increased to around 4.39 million euros. 

Two Nestroy farces, "Frühere Verhältnisse" and "Häuptling Abendwind", are currently being performed at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt - with Gerti Drassl, Gerald Votava, Christoph F. Krutzler, Rudi Widerhofer, Magda Kropiunig and the musicians Bernhard Neumaier and Elisabeth Koval.

(Bild: Stadttheater Klagenfurt KarlheinzFessl )

According to the current funding guidelines, the Stadttheater Klagenfurt receives a total of around 17.66 million euros per season from the theater sponsors, the state of Carinthia and the provincial capital of Klagenfurt. Of this, around 10.8 million euros are paid by the state. This always includes the special-purpose subsidy from the federal government, which is determined by the Stage Association. The federal funding, which has now been increased by around 1.39 million euros, brings the total funding amount to just over 19 million euros. The special project funding of 200,000 euros for "Mein Freund Harvey" in the 2024/25 season, which was approved in mid-January 2024, is not included in this amount.

As a cultural institution, the Stadttheater is important for Klagenfurt and the whole of Carinthia. The excellent capacity utilization figures also show that it is close to the hearts of the population. Our goal is and has always been to give the theater a good perspective as a multi-genre theater and also as an important employer - especially in the current financially very challenging times.

Kulturreferent Peter Kaiser

Opera, operetta, musicals, plays, concerts and ballet are performed in the multi-genre theater. There are 716 seats available to the audience. Capacity utilization is just under 75 percent.