The "Bauhaus Manifesto 2026," published on August 20, was initiated by Germany's Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer.

"Together, we're making it clear that we want to strengthen the Bauhaus and its principles while defending them against any form of anti-democratic attack," the independent politician told the German press agency DPA.

A statement accompanying the manifesto said it was intended as a cultural and sociopolitical commitment to the principles that have made the Bauhaus art school, which operated from 1919 to 1933, a global cultural icon. Those principles include freedom of artistic thought, openness to new ideas, the connection between different disciplines, and the belief that cultural innovation can make an important contribution to a democratic society.

Something to be proud of

At the publication of the manifesto, Weimer said, "The Bauhaus demonstrates the innovative power that emerges when art, craftsmanship, design and technology converge. It stands for creativity and exchange, courage and openness to new ideas." He said those values remain an important source of inspiration: "We can be proud of that."

The signatories include the German Cultural Council, the German Commission for UNESCO, the German Bishops' Conference, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Association of German Cities, the German Museums Association, the Academy of Arts, the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts and the German Lost Art Foundation.

The Bauhaus was founded in Weimar in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius and other artists as a school of art and design. It later moved to Dessau and eventually to Berlin. When he founded the school, Gropius outlined its goals in his own "Bauhaus Manifesto." In 1933, the prestigious institution was forced to close permanently under pressure from the Nazis. The Bauhaus and its sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1996.

The Bauhaus' international influence is not based solely on its modern design language and avant-garde approach, the new manifesto says. It also stems from its ethos, which remains a model today: the courage to pursue bold ideas, a belief in freedom of artistic thought and the conviction that only an open society can foster cultural renewal.

The signatories also set out to defend the Bauhaus movement itself against populist criticism: "Bauhaus institutions should be strengthened; their creative freedom and social openness recognized as exemplary and they should be defended against any anti-democratic attacks," they say.

A 'misguided aberration of modernity'?

The Alternative for Germany (AFD) party, which has described the Bauhaus as a "misguided aberration of modernity," is not named in the manifesto. But the document can be seen as a response to the far-right party's cultural agenda.

The AfD could emerge as the largest bloc in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament after the September 6 election. The party says it wants to promote a "patriotic cultural policy," primarily supporting art that "contributes to the development of German identity."

The AfD also plans to replace Saxony-Anhalt's current image campaign, #moderndenken (think modern), with #deutschdenken (think German). In its current election manifesto, the party says the Bauhaus has always sought to avoid any hint of "national roots."

The signatories of the "Bauhaus Manifesto 2026" take the opposite view. "We need the sociopolitical impetus of the Bauhaus pioneers precisely at a time when political fringe groups are gaining strength and advocating regression rather than progress," they state.

They also point to the Bauhaus' persecution under the Nazis. "The example of the Bauhaus and the hostility it faced from the Nazi regime reminds us that the culture of remembrance is not a nostalgic look back, but a prerequisite for democratic self-understanding."

The manifesto states that cultural institutions that preserve memory and provide spaces for constructive debate should therefore be supported. The autonomy of artists and cultural institutions, it says, is a fundamental prerequisite for a vibrant democracy.

The Bauhaus is built on the idea of bringing together creative ideas, bold experimentation, high-quality craftsmanship and technological innovation, the manifesto says. It also represents openness and renewal, exchange and networking.

"This openness is a great strength of German culture and enriches Germany," its supporters say. "We reject nationalism that is hostile to culture."

This article was originally written in German.