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Concept Funding

The concept funding supports independent groups, ensembles and artistic collaborations that have been working successfully across Germany and internationally for many years in the further development of conceptual strategies over longer periods of time and beyond the regular production processes. With the three-year funding program, which was established in 2010 and has been continuously developed, the Fonds Darstellende Künste enables these outstanding groups to put on several new productions while providing them with the time and space to acquire additional co-producers, additional sources of funding and new audiences.

What is funded?

Funding is available for multi-year concepts that include thematic or aesthetic continuity and either (at least) three new productions or two new productions and a strategic-organizational project. The projects and productions must be planned for a period of three consecutive years (2026, 2027, 2028). The productions supported by the concept funding must include at least five performances in Germany, including the premiere.

Who can apply?

Artists/groups, ensembles, collectives and projects of all disciplines and genres of the independent performing arts that have been working at an outstanding professional level for many years and that are based in Germany.

How much can be applied for?

For the entire three-year funding period, the minimum amount that can be applied for is €150,000 and the maximum is €240,000. The amount of funding that can be applied for from the Fonds Darstellende Künste for each of these three years is a minimum of €50,000 and a maximum of €80,000.

Co-financing amounting to at least 75% of the total amount applied for to the Fonds must be provided by public funding bodies (federal states and/or municipalities) and already be approved at the time of application. In the first two funding years ((2026 und 2027), a co-financing amount of at least 75% of the amount applied for to the Fonds must also be secured in the respective funding year from approved public funding bodies.

Regulations

The regulations form the basis for the formal completeness of the application and include information on application requirements, formal exclusion criteria, and the cost and financing plan, as well as a list of the documents to be submitted. They should be read carefully before submitting an application. Failure to comply with the criteria set forth in the guidelines may result in an application being rejected on formal grounds and not forwarded to the jury.

Application and funding deadlines

Applications to the Fonds Darstellende Künste must be submitted online.

Application deadline:

The possible project duration for approved projects begins with the positive funding approval (expected to be at the end of March 2026) and ends on 15.10.2028.

Three complete statements of use for the respective approval periods must be submitted by the following deadlines:

For all further information, please read the regulations before submitting your application or before calling the office of the Fonds Darstellende Künste for advice. The FAQs provide further assistance. We strive to make the application process barrier-free and accessible. Please contact beratung@fonds-daku.de to arrange for individual consultation.

Forms

The Fonds Darstellende Künste provides templates for the cost and financing plans that must be submitted; these must be used when applying. These and other important documents are available in Forms section.

Jury

The board of trustees of the Fonds Darstellende Künste decides on the awarding of the multi-year concept funding. An overview of the members of the board of trustees can be found here.