Preface
The year 2025 was marked by profound political and cultural policy changes. The change of government at the federal level was accompanied by a redefinition of cultural policy priorities and marked a turning point at the end of the year for many actors in the independent performing arts. During this transitional phase, the Fonds Darstellende Künste was called upon to provide guidance and ensure continuity. Following the restructuring of the head office in 2024, the focus was also on stability when it comes to staff, and continued development in the areas of sustainability and digitalization.
Spaces for Dialogue and Exchange
In 2025, the Fonds Darstellende Künste celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Sophiensæle Berlin. The celebratory event was attended by the former Minister of State for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth, and provided an opportunity to reflect on the Fonds’ history as well as its current role and to attend the premiere of the film DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN. The film builds on the nationwide series of the same name and distills the artistic and social debates on artistic freedom, democracy and social responsibility that have taken place in numerous locations. The anniversary celebration was a moment of collective reflection and a festive gathering with our partners, supporters and, above all, the artists.
With BUNDESTREFFEN 25, the Fonds set a central thematic focus over the course of the year and offered a nationwide networking opportunity under the title “The Show Must Go On.” The gathering of artists, production companies, networks and representatives from politics and public administration – including Konrad Schmidt-Werthern, Sven Lehmann, Ottilie Klein, Nancy Faeser and Martin Rabanus – provided a space for exchange, defining positions and developing shared future prospects. In a funding landscape under increasing financial pressure, it was particularly important to create reliable spaces for dialogue, mutual understanding and far-reaching reflection on cultural policy.
The Fonds’ other activities in 2025 included the ongoing dialogue with the Ad-Hoc Group on the Performing Arts of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), as well as cultural policy work within the Rat für Darstellende Künste und Tanz, the speaker’s council of the Deutscher Kulturrat, and other national professional associations.
Re-adjusted Funding?
Toward the end of the year, however, the budgetary situation worsened considerably, as funding for nationally relevant networks and production venues dried up. For the Fonds, this meant a strategic re-adjustment of its funding instruments. The goal was to continue providing effective funding under changed financial conditions, to set priorities in a transparent way and to allocate the available resources in a way that ensures the greatest possible stability for the sector. Central to this is co-financing by the states and municipalities, which supplements federal funding in all the programs.
The work of the Fonds takes on particular significance during times of political and financial uncertainty. In 2025, the Fonds Darstellende Künste continued to stand for reliability and professional expertise – in support of the artists. The funding programs offered guidance in an environment where predictability is increasingly becoming the exception.
The experiences of 2025 will create the foundation for the further development of the Fonds’ funding structures in the coming years – with the aim of sustainably strengthening the independent performing arts even under difficult conditions. In 2026 too, the Fonds Darstellende Künste will demonstrate that “the show must go on” – with a clear stance, reliable structures and a commitment to enabling artistic work.
Holger Bergmann
Managing director, Fonds Darstellende Künste
