Its purpose is to bring cross-sectoral issues into cultural policy discussions at all government levels, and "to advocate freedom of the arts, publications and information.

The association was founded in 1981 as a response to the German Federal government which wanted to abolish the reduced VAT tax on books and visual media.

Membership fees and the sale of books on cultural policy provide are a minimal part of its income.

[6] The managing director (since March 1997: Olaf Zimmermann[7]) coordinates the work of the association and implements the resolutions of the executive committee, the plenum and the speaker council.

In June 2018, the Council called for political talkshows to be suspended for one year,[8][9][10] and be replaced with "more suitable contents with regards to social cohesion".