New Board of Directors Elected for the Fonds Darstellende Künste

The Fonds Darstellende Künste is undergoing a leadership transition: At the general assembly on May 6, 2026, the member associations elected a new board as scheduled:
Amelie Deuflhard (Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser) and Anne-Cathrin Lessel (Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste) were re-elected to their positions. Sabine Gehm, who represents the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, was newly elected to the board and will bring fresh perspectives, particularly for the dance scene, in the future.

A special moment marking this leadership transition took place the evening before the election: At the first “Fonds.Salon” held at the office, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schneider was given a festive send-off. After nearly ten years of dedicated service on the board, he is stepping down from the committee. During this time, he played a key role in shaping the fund’s cultural policy direction and championed the interests of the independent performing arts with great commitment.

“We are pleased by the trust placed in the current board members and warmly welcome Sabine Gehm. At the same time, we extend our special thanks to Wolfgang Schneider for a decade of intensive work and lasting contributions to the independent arts scene,” emphasizes Holger Bergmann, Executive Director of the Fonds Darstellende Künste.

With this new composition, the Board of Directors is consistently continuing the Fonds’ strategic work. As the central funding institution for the independent performing arts in Germany, it will continue to support projects that span state borders and sustainably strengthen the visibility of the independent dance and theater scene.