Regulations (Application Deadline: 01.07.2026)
01. Production Funding Plus is aimed at the development of new nationally and internationally noteworthy production projects by long-standing professional independent performing artists/groups from all disciplines and genres of the performing arts (including performance, drama, dance, musical theater, puppet and object theater, theater in public spaces, contemporary circus, and cross-genre theater) who aim to perform in large spaces and for large audiences. The productions can be realized in co-production with independent dance and theater venues, festivals, municipal and state theaters, private theaters as well as non-theater venues, or they can be self-produced and/or premiered at these venues.
02. Artistic work processes for the development of a new production are funded. A premiere should generally be part of the proposed project. In addition, further performances may also be part of the project (see No. 14).
03. Applicants must have been professionally active in the independent performing arts for many years, their previous work must have been recognized in the artistic discourse nationwide and, if applicable, internationally, and they must be based and work in Germany.
04. Projects supported within the framework of Production Funding Plus must be implemented and presented predominantly in Germany. This applies in particular to the premiere. Artistically justified deviations from this provision must be explained in the application.
05. There must be a guaranteed minimum of five performances (including the premiere) of the proposed production. Artistically justified deviations from this provision must be explained in the application.
06. Applicants must be in a position to guarantee proper management and provide proper evidence of the use of the funding.
07. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on July 1, 2026 (application deadline).
08. Applications must be submitted using the corresponding online form , which must be completed in full.
A complete application also includes
- a cost and financing plan in the format provided by the Fonds Darstellende Künste and in accordance with provisions 14 to 19 of these regulations
- a 2 to 3-page detailed presentation of the artist(s)/group and their previous artistic activities, as well as, if applicable, the (co-)producing venue, its structure and artistic orientation, summarized in a pdf
- a 3-page detailed project description including a schedule for the project as a pdf
- Internet links to present the applicant
- Proof of all approved co-financing (in the form of a notice of approval) and, if applicable, cash funds (in the form of a bank statement) as a combined pdf (see No. 16)
- A venue certificate
- A pdf of the results of the “Ecological Sustainability Checklist”
09. An application is considered to have been submitted on time if all documents (see point 08) are uploaded to the Fonds Darstellende Künste database and sent by 11:59 p.m. at the latest on the day of the application deadline. Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.
10. The basis for the approval, payment and settlement of the funds is a project funding agreement in accordance with the administration regulations No. 12.5 relating to Section 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO). The General Ancillary Provisions for Grants for Project Funding (ANBest-P) become part of the project funding agreement.
11. There is no entitlement to funding. Payments will be made on the basis of a current cost and financing plan following the conclusion of a funding agreement. In addition, a project bank account must be used or set up to receive the funding. Otherwise, funding cannot be guaranteed.
12. In the event of funding approval, the appropriation period will run from (expected) October 1, 2026, to September 15, 2028. The proposed project or project section must be completed in full within this period.
13. A complete where-used list must be submitted by October 15, 2028, at the latest. For multi-year projects, ANBest-P (6.1) requires that an interim where-used list be submitted by January 30 of each year.
14. As part of its Production Funding Plus program, the Fonds provides funding of at least €75,000 and up to a maximum of €125,000 for projects in the field of the independent performing arts. The total financial volume for the development of the production must be at least €150,000. Costs for subsequent performances of the production may be included in an application, provided that the minimum amount of €150,000 for the development of the production is met.
15. A balanced cost and financing plan is a prerequisite for the Production Funding Plus.
16. Co-financing amounting to 100% of the amount applied for from the Fonds must be verifiably secured as at the time of application. Of this, at least 50% must be from public funds (from federal states and/or local authorities*)**.
17. Personnel and material expenses are eligible for funding in accordance with the General Ancillary Provisions for Grants for Project Funding (ANBest-P). Any travel expenses incurred are reimbursable in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act (BRKG). As a rule, investment costs for technology, presentation, and other purchases may not exceed 30% of the application amount.
18. VAT deductible in accordance with Section 15 of Germany’s Value Added Tax Act (UStG) is not eligible for funding. Similarly, ongoing non-project-related material and personnel expenses are excluded.
19. The minimum fee recommendations for the independent performing arts must be strictly adhered to for any planned fees***. In order to verify compliance, comprehensible calculation bases for artistic fees must be specified in the cost and financing plan.
20. Funding is excluded if the proposed project has already begun before the funding is approved, i.e., if expenses have already been incurred or contracts have already been concluded.
21. A project can only be submitted to one of the funding programs of the Fonds Darstellende Künste; parallel applications are not permitted. A project that has been rejected by the board of trustees cannot be reapplied for to the Fonds Darstellende Künste. An exception is individual production projects that have applied for the Fonds’ concept funding (application deadline February 2, 2026).
22. Applicants may only apply for one project in one funding round of the program.
23. Revivals and revisions/adaptations of previously performed or previous productions with similar content are not eligible for Production Funding Plus.
24. Artists/groups who have received concept funding from the Fonds Darstellende Künste may only begin the project applied for in Production Funding Plus once the where-used list concluding that concept has been submitted in full to the Fonds Darstellende Künste.
25. Submitting an application to the Fonds Darstellende Künste excludes the co-financing of the proposed project by another funding institution that awards federal funding. This applies, among others, to the Kulturstiftung des Bundes, the Hauptstadtkulturfonds, the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, the Fonds Soziokultur, the Tanzpakt, the Musikfonds, in most cases the Goethe-Institut, and co-production funding from the Nationale Performance-Netz (NPN).
26. Independent dance and theater companies, festivals, municipal and state theaters, and private theaters are not eligible to apply.
These regulations apply from January 15, 2026 and are subject to change.
Berlin, January 15, 2026
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
Board of Directors and Management
* In this program, public funds are defined as direct or indirect subsidies from German municipalities and states. As a rule, the artistic budgets of publicly funded independent production companies and the funds of German municipal and state theaters are considered public funds and can be used as co-financing.
** For example, if you apply to the Fonds for €75,000, you must be able to provide evidence of at least €75,000 in co-financing, at least €37,500 of which must come from public funds. The total costs in this example calculation amount to at least €150,000.
*** The Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V.’s recommendation for a minimum fee for the independent performing arts in Germany for 1.) professional groups with compulsory insurance in the Künstlersozialkasse (KSK): €3,600 per month / €830 per week / €165 per day / €360 per performance. For 2.) professional groups for whom social security coverage through the KSK is not possible: €4,220 per month / €970 per week / €190 per day / €422 per performance. The Fonds Darstellende Künste also recommends an in-depth examination of ver.di's initiative for basic fees for self-employed creative professionals.