Funding programs
On this page, you will find an overview of all current and past funding programs offered by the Fonds Darstellende Künste.
Each program has its own focus and opportunities: from the development of new artistic formats to the long-term strengthening of structures. For each program, you will find a brief overview of its focus, application requirements, deadlines, and the funding process.
The team at the head office is available to advise you on any questions regarding your application. Information on the various advisory services can be found here.
Categories
Status
38 funding programmes
-
Production Funding Plus
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Juli 2026
- Application amount
€75,000 - €125,000
- Program duration
expected 01.10.2026 – 15.09.2028
What is being funded?
New, nationally and internationally noteworthy artistic works by independently producing artists/groups in the performing arts – in co-production with or for performance at independent dance and theater venues, festivals, municipal and state theaters, private theaters as well as non-theater venues.
Who can apply?
Established professional self-commissioned artists/groups from the performing arts who are based and working primarily in Germany.
Requirement
Co-financing of at least 100% of the amount applied for, at least 50% of which must come from public funds.
Jury decision
likely the end of September 2026
-
Production Funding
more informationopen
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. September 2026
- Application amount
€15,000 - €50,000
- Program duration
expected 15.11.2026 - 30.09.2027
What is funded?
Artistic work processes that focus on a new production project in the independent performing arts and that usually conclude with a premiere and performances shortly afterwards.
Who can apply?
Long-term (at least 2 years) professionally independent producing artists/groups from the performing arts based and working in Germany.
Requirement
Co-financing of at least 50% of the application amount from verifiably approved public funds (German municipalities and/or federal states)
Jury decision
Expected at the end of June (deadline: April 2026)
Expected Mid-November (deadline: September 2026) -
Network Funding
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. April 2026
- Application amount
€15,000 - €50,000
- Program duration
expected 15.06.2026 - 31.07.2027
What is funded?
Cooperation projects spanning several federal states in the field of knowledge transfer and professional qualification in the independent performing arts, which include at least one major discussion or information event to enable a specialist exchange of ideas of nationwide relevance.
Artistic productions and guest performances are not eligible for funding.
The call for proposals is subject to the approval of the funds allocated in the 2026 budget by the Bundestag by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
Who can apply?
Long-standing associations, networks, production companies and nationally renowned festivals of the independent performing arts that are organized as legal entities.
Individuals and private partnerships are not eligible to apply.
Requirement
Co-financing of at least 50% of the application amount from verifiably approved public funds (German municipalities and/or federal states)
Jury decision
expected in mid-June 2026
-
Revival Funding
more informationopen
- Submission deadlines
-
- 12. Oktober 2026
- Application amount
€10,000 - €25,000
- Program duration
expected 15.12.2026 - 30.09.2027
What is funded?
Revivals as well as the artistic or formal reworking of productions of the independent performing arts that have already been supported by the Fonds and have already had their premiere.
Who can apply?
Long-standing (at least 2 years) professional working artists/groups in the independent performing arts based and working in Germany
Requirement
Productions applying for resumption must have received funding in one of the following programs: production funding (from 2023 onwards), concept funding
Co-financing of at least 50% of the application amount from verifiably approved public funds (German municipalities and/or federal states).
Jury decision
Expected mid-December 2026
-
Revival Funding Rural Areas
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. Mai 2026
- Application amount
€10,000 - €25,000
- Program duration
15.07.2026 - 30.09.2027
What is funded?
Revivals or guest performances with at least two performances in rural areas of independent performing arts productions that have previously been funded by the Fonds and have already premiered.
Who can apply?
Long-standing (at least 2 years) professional working artists/groups in the independent performing arts based and working in Germany
Requirement
Productions submitted for resumption must have been funded under one of the following programs: Production Funding (from 2023), Concept Funding.
Co-financing of at least 30% of the application amount from verifiably approved public and/or private funds (German municipalities and/or federal states, foundation funds, cash own funds).Jury decision
expected mid-July 2026
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS Rural
more informationopen
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Oktober 2026
- Application amount
Laboratory funding: €5,000 – 15,000
Process funding €15,000 – 40,000- Project duration
Laboratory and Process funding: January 1, 2027 - August 31, 2027 at the latest
What is supported?
#Cultural education
Open-format and open-ended artistic (including hybrid, analog and digital) projects, as well as artistic-participative approaches with children and young people between the ages of 3 and 18, especially in risk situations, with children and young people with disabilities, as well as children and young people with refugee experience, in short, medium and long-term project durations
Who can apply?
Alliances consisting of at least 3 partners from the fields of art/culture, education and society, organized as a legal entity or GbR
Requirements
Local location, alliance partners contribute their own work
Jury decision
expected November 2026
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS Digital
more informationopen
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Oktober 2026
- Application amount
Laboratory funding: €5,000 – 15,000
Process funding €15,000 – 40,000- Project duration
Laboratory and Process funding: January 1, 2027 - August 31, 2027 at the latest
What is support?
#Cultural education
Open-format, open-ended artistic (also hybrid, analog and digital) projects, as well as artistic-participative work approaches with children and young people between the ages of 3 and 18, especially in risk situations, with children and young people with disabilities, as well as children and young people with refugee experience, in short, medium and long-term project periods
Who can apply?
Alliances of at least 3 partners from the arts/culture, education and society, organized as a legal entity or as a GbR
Requirement
Alliances of at least 3 partners from the arts/culture, education and society, organized as a legal entity or as a GbR
Jury decision
expected November 2026
-
Residency Funding
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 2. März 2026
- Application amount
€5,000 to €10,000
- Program duration
15.05.2026 - 15.11.2026
What is funded?
Open-ended projects such as research, artistic-experimental laboratories, and concept development for upcoming productions that take place in a residency or in connection with a residency location.
Who can apply?
Self-commissioned performing arts groups of all genres and disciplines in the independent performing arts sector that can demonstrate affiliation with a production house or festival based in Germany that is a member of one of the following interdisciplinary nationwide networks and is willing to offer them a residency at the venue/festival or to collaborate with them in realizing such a residency.
- Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser
- FestivalFriends
- flukks+
- FREISCHWIMMEN
- Netzwerk Freier Theater (NFT)
Requirement
Applicants must have received public funding for a production project in the independent performing arts at least once in the past three years (2023/2024/2025) and be able to provide proof of residency from one of the member institutions/festivals of the above-mentioned federal networks.
Jury decision
expected in mid-May 2026
-
Concept Funding
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 2. Februar 2026
- Application amount
€150,000 - €240,000
- Program duration
expected 01.04.2026 - 15.10.2028
What is funded?
Three-year concepts – with either three new productions or two new productions and a strategic-organizational project.
Who can apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts who have been working successfully for many years and are based in Germany.
Jury decision
Expected at the end of March
-
XZLLNZ (Production Funding)
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. Juli 2025
- Application amount
EUR 125,000 - EUR 200,000
- Program duration
expected 01.10.2025 - 31.07.2027
What is funded?
Funding is available for new artistic works by independently producing artists/groups from the performing arts at German city or state theaters.
Who can apply?
Long-standing (at least 5 years) professionally independently producing artists/groups from the performing arts based and working focus in Germany or German municipal and state theaters that can demonstrate an intention to cooperate with such artists/groups.
Prerequisite
Co-financing of at least 100% of the application amount from public funds (federal states and/or municipalities).Jury decision
Expected Mid-September 2025
-
DACH
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. Oktober 2022
- Application amount
5.000 € or 7.500 €
- Program duration
two or three successive months between October and December 2022
What was funded?
open-ended artistic project from all genres and departments of the performing arts
Who could apply?
self-commissioned protagonists of the performing arts who moved or had to move their residence and work focus from Ukraine to the Federal Republic of Germany due to war and refugee movements
-
Research Funding
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. August 2023
- Application amount
€7,500
- Program duration
01.11.2023 to 31.04.2024
What is funded?
Grant-type funding for individuals that contributes to research, the development of artistic production projects or artistic qualification.
Who can apply?
Long-standing, professionally producing artists from the independent performing arts who reside and work primarily in Germany.
Requirements
Proof of artistic responsibility or significant artistic participation in at least three productions supported with public funds (federal German municipalities and/or federal states)
Jury decision
expected mid-October 2023
-
Concept Funding
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Dezember 2021
- Application amount
75.000 € – 200.000 €
- Program duration
until 31.12.2024
What was funded?
Three-year concepts – with either three new productions or two new productions and one strategic-organizational project.
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups of the independent performing arts who have been successful for many years and are based and have the focus of their work in Germany.
-
Bundesweite Artists Labs
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 10. April 2022
- Application amount
25.000 - 50.000 €
- Program duration
Until 31.08.2022
What was funded?
Lab formats that, based on the changed situations of artistic work due to the pandemic, are focused on three overarching areas:
- Questions about the change in art itself – in terms of content and aesthetics
- Questions about current and future-oriented working and production methods
- Questions of reception and participation, of the audience and the public
Who could apply?
Individual artists, collectives, ensembles, project-based and/or community-based associations of artists from the independent performing arts who have been continuously active professionally for many years.
-
#TakeHeart | Rechercheförderung
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Juni 2022
- 1. Oktober 2021
- 15. September 2022
- 1. Februar 2022
- 15. Januar 2023
- Application sum
7.500 €
- Project timeframe
three months
What is supported?
research and conceptual development of artistic projects without any determined outcome, projects that serve artistic further education as well as qualification
Who is supported?
individual artists and curators, who can provide proof that they have been working professionally for at least three years in the independent performing arts
-
#TakeHeart | Residenzförderung
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Oktober 2021
- 1. Dezember 2021
- 1. Februar 2022
- 1. Juni 2022
- 1. November 2022
- 15. Januar 2023
- Application sum
5.000 € | 5 x 5.000 €
- Project timeframe
two consecutive months
What is supported?
Projects without any determined outcome such as research, laboratories and conception
Who is supported?
Artists, artist groups and curators from the independent performing arts that are connected to one of the venues of the Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser (BiP), the flausen+bundesnetzwerk or the Netzwerk Freier Theater
-
#TakeHeart | Prozessförderung
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2021
- 15. März 2022
- 25. September 2022
- Antragssumme
10.000 € – 50.000 €
- Project timeframe
until 31.12.2022 | 30.04.2023 | 30.06.2023
What is supported?
artistic work processes in the independent performing arts (also digital) without any determined outcome, also in terms of format, that serve the creation and possibly the presentation of productions
Who is supported?
professional artists, artist groups, ensembles, collectives and projects from all categories and genres of the independent performing arts with their headquarters and work located in Germany
-
#TakeHeart | Wiederaufnahmeförderung
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. Oktober 2021
- 1. März 2022
- 11. September 2022
- Application sum
10.000 € – 25.000 €
- Projektlaufzeit
until 31.12.2022 | 30.06.2023
What is supported?
revivals or artistic or formal reworkings of productions from the independent performing arts that are performed in accordance with pandemic measures
Who is supported?
professional artists, artist groups, ensembles, collectives and projects from all categories and genres of the independent performing arts with their headquarters and work focus in Germany
-
#TakeHeart | Netzwerk- und Strukturförderung
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 10. Oktober 2021
- 15. Februar 2022
- 1. Oktober 2022
- Application sum
25.000 € – 50.000 €
- Project timeframe
until 31.12.2022 | 30.06.2023
What is supported?
(digital) interstate cooperation projects in the field of knowledge transfer and qualification in the liberal performing arts that include at least one major discussion event, symposium, congress, or other information event on further education or subject-specific exchange of nationwide relevance
Who is supported?
long-standing active associations, production centers, networks, production offices and supra-regional festivals of the independent performing arts that are organized as a legal entity. Artistic productions and guest performances are not eligible
-
#TakeAction | Semiprofessionelles Theater, Freilichtbühnen | 2nd Round
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2021
- Application amount
€8,000 - €25,000
- Program duration
Until 30.09.2022
What was funded?
Artistic work or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods
Who could apply?
Open-air theaters as well as amateur theater companies and associations that collaborate with professional artists/groups of the independent performing arts as well as professional artists/groups themselves that work at the interface with amateur theater productions were eligible to apply.
-
#TakeAction | Preformance, Tanz, Sprech- und Musiktheater
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2020
- Application amount
€20,000 – €60,000
- Program duration
until 30.09.2021
What was funded?
Artistic work or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods.
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts working in the fields of performance, dance, spoken and musical theater, as well as interdisciplinary theater based and working in Germany.
-
#TakeAction | Theater im Öffentlichen raum, Zeitgenössischer Zirkus
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2020
- Application amount
€10,000 – €50,000
- Program duration
until 30.09.2021
What was funded?
Artistic working or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts in the fields of theater in public spaces or contemporary circus with their headquarters and main focus of work in Germany.
-
#TakeAction | Off-Tourneetheater
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2020
- Application amount
€20,000 – €50,000
- Program duration
Until30.09.2021
What was funded?
Artistic work or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts in the field of off-touring theater based and working in Germany.
-
#TakeAction | Figuren-und Objekttheater
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2020
- Application amount
€8,000 – €25,000
- Program duration
until 30.09.2021
What was funded?
Artistic work or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods.
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts in the field of figure and object theater based and working in Germany.
-
#TakeAction | Theater für junges Publikum
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. November 2020
- Application amount
€10,000 – €35,000
- Program duration
until 30.09.2021
What was funded?
Artistic work or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods.
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts in the field of children's and youth theater based and working in Germany.
-
#TakeAction | Semiprofessionelles Theater, Freilichtbühnen
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Dezember 2020
- Application amount
€8,000 – €25.00
- Program duration
Until 30.09.2021
What was funded?
Artistic work or production cycles from the independent performing arts for one to two production periods
Who could apply?
Artists/groups and projects working in the field of semi-professional independent performing arts, including open-air theaters, who have been collaborating with professional artists from this field for many years, with headquarters and main focus of work in Germany.
-
#TakePlace
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. November 2020
- Application deadlines
50.000 € – 100.000 €
- Program duration
until 30.09.2021
What was funded?
Projects for the optimization of process and operational procedures, which in particular integrate ecological, sustainable, and/or innovative elements into the operations and operational procedures.
Who could apply?
Theaters and dance houses, performance and production venues, as well as festivals with nationwide appeal from the independent performing arts based in Germany.
-
#TakeNote
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. November 2020
- Application amount
40.000 € – 80.000 €
- Program duration
bis 30.09.2021
What was funded?
(Digital) cooperation projects that are realized nationwide and include at least one larger discussion or information event, a conference, further education, or an artistic exchange of nationwide relevance.
Who could apply?
Festivals, production venues and cultural institutions, performance venues, non-profit associations, and societies from the independent performing arts based in Germany
-
#TakePart
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. November 2020
- 5. April 2021
- Application amount
20.000 € – 60.000 €
- Program duration
until 31.12.2021
What was funded?
Funding was provided for projects focused on the area of reorientation toward audiences: measures for cultural participation or audience development, creative strategies in communication and public relations work, as well as artistic projects for the development of new audience groups or to be able to reach audiences even in the face of the challenges caused by the pandemic.
Who could apply?
Artists/groups, ensembles as well as festivals and production venues from the independent performing arts.
-
#TakeCare
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. September 2020
- 1. November 2020
- 1. Februar 2021
- Application amount
€5,000 | collectively up to 5 x €5,000
- Project duration
2 months each – depending on application deadline until February 28, 2021 | April 30, 2021 | June 30, 2021
What was funded?
Research to generate content and future concept development as well as activities aimed at stabilizing artistic activities.
Who could apply?
Professional artists from the independent performing arts who have demonstrably worked in artistic positions in publicly funded projects of the independent performing arts or in transnational or international guest performances or productions of the independent performing arts in the last three years.
-
#TakeCareResidenzen
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 15. Oktober 2020
- 15. November 2020
- 1. Februar 2021
- 1. April 2021
- Application amount
€5,000 | collectively up to 5 x €5,000
- Project duration
2 months each
What was funded?
Open-ended research, labs, or conceptual projects in connection with residencies of a venue belonging to the Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser or the flausen+bundesnetzwerk.
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups working in the independent performing arts whose artistic positions are connected to venues that are part of the flausen+bundesnetzwerk or the Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser.
-
#takecare Initiative (March 2020)
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 5. April 2020
- Application amount
5000€
- Program duration
What was funded?
Content-related explorative projects, such as research to generate content and future concept development, as well as all activities aimed at stabilizing artistic activities.
Who could apply?
Applying artists must have worked artistically in a production supported by the Fonds within the last 10 years.
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE PROJECTS
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 20. April 2023
- Application amount
10.000 € - 25.000 €
- Program duration
until 30.09.2023
What was funded?
Artistic productions of the independent performing arts in rural areas and small towns (up to 20,000 inhabitants) that dealt with global issues, among other things.
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups, ensembles, collectives and projects of all disciplines and genres of the independent performing arts from rural areas and small towns based and working in Germany.
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE PROJECTS
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. Februar 2021
- Application amount
8.000 - 20.000 €
- Project duration
Until 30.09.2021
Who could apply?
Project durations – with or without subsequent performances – for the development of performing arts productions in rural areas.
Wer wurde gefördert?
Long-standing ensembles, artist groups and artistic institutions from rural areas or actors from small towns (up to 20,000 inhabitants) that have been active for many years.
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE VENTURES
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 16. August 2020
- Application amount
5000€
- Project duration
Until 15.11.2020
What was funded?
Research for the generation of artistic content and future concept development as well as all activities aimed at stabilizing artistic activities, e.g., adjustments of plans and challenges in digital formats etc.
Who could apply?
Long-standing artistic institutions, ensembles or artists/groups from rural areas or actors from villages and small towns with up to 20,000 inhabitants, with a special focus on rural areas.
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE LABS
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 25. August 2019
- Application amount
10.000 - 25.000€
- Project duration
Until 15.12.2019
What was funded?
Lab projects lasting several days, focusing on the joint exchange of regional as well as international aspects between science, art, and society.
Who could apply?
Long-standing artistic institutions, ensembles, or artists/groups from rural areas or actors from small towns (up to 20,000 inhabitants) with a special focus on rural areas.
-
KONFIGURATION
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 3. Juni 2019
- Application amount
possible in 3 categories:
(a) €2.000 – 5.000
(b) > €5.000 – 15.000
(c) > €15.000 – 25.000- Program duration
01.09.2020
What was funded?
Projects from figure and object theater with a focus on digitalization
Who could apply?
Professional artists/groups from the independent performing arts
performing arts based and working in Germany and with experience in the field of
experience in the field of puppet and object theater -
AUTONOM
more informationclosed
- Submission deadlines
-
- 1. September 2020
- 1. Februar 2021
- Application amount
€30,000 - €100,000
- Program duration
until 30.09.2021 | 31.03.2022
What was funded?
Projects in the various fields of the performing arts that deal with artificial intelligence.
Who could apply?
Longstanding independently producing artists and ensembles from the performing arts that operate nationwide or across federal states and have dealt with the topic of AI in the years 2020-2022 in line with the call for proposals.