Blog
In its blog, the Fonds provides in-depth insights into current developments, funding activities, goals, and projects through interviews, video statements, and talks with guests.
-
The Fonds supports the call to continue the “Kultur macht stark” initiative
02 Jul 2026
For many years, the federal program “Kultur macht stark” has been supporting projects across Germany that do exactly that—and our “Global Village Kids” funding program is also part of this success story.
Tags
-
In Retrospect: Federal Theater Prize & Tabori Prize
30 Jun 2026
A celebration of theater in Germany: Dynamic and moving images from this year’s presentation of the Federal Theater Prize and the Fonds’ Tabori Prize.
Tags
-
Casting an Anchor into the Future
© Heike Steinweg
25 Jun 2026
Budget cuts in the arts, far-right narratives, an independent arts scene undergoing structural change – how is the Fonds Darstellende Künste dealing with all these challenges? An interview with Managing Director Holger Bergmann about alliances, resilience and the question of what independent artistic creation is really all about.
Tags
-
Aktionstag: Zusammenhalt in Vielfalt
21 May 2026
The Fonds supports the German Cultural Council’s Cultural Integration Initiative and the day of action on May 21. Holger Bergmann: “Cultural diversity is not just a ‘nice-to-have,’ but a prerequisite for democracy and social cohesion.”
Tags
-
„Ein Theater für alle Menschen"
© Dorothea Tuch
12 May 2026
Wolfgang Schneider hat die deutsche Kultur- und Theaterpolitik wesentlich geprägt, als Vorstandsvorsitzender zehn Jahre lang auch den Fonds Darstellende Künste. Zum Abschied beim „Fonds.Salon“ betonte er die Bedeutung der Theaterlandschaft.
Tags
-
New Board of Directors Elected for the Fonds Darstellende Künste
© Anne John
07 May 2026
The Fonds Darstellende Künste has elected a new board: Amelie Deuflhard and Anne-Cathrin Lessel were re-elected, and Sabine Gehm was newly elected. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schneider was given a ceremonial send-off after ten years of service.
Tags
-
“I’ve always wanted to make art possible”
© Heike Steinweg
04 May 2026
Who keeps the Fonds Darstellende Künste running? One of the people behind the scenes is Christina Roth, administrative director and deputy managing director, who has been helping to ensure that processes run smoothly and the money flows for the past 10 years. A conversation about COVID-19, its aftermath and cultural funding today.
Tags
-
City, Country, Rehearsal
© Rainer Schlautmann
30 Mar 2026
Benjamin Foerster-Baldenius, Anna Foerster-Baldenius and Andrea Hofmann of the raumlaborberlin collective, winners of the Tabori Prize 2026, in conversation with Christine Wahl
Tags
-
Supporting Children and Youth – Creating Opportunities for the Future
26 Mar 2026
The program “Culture Empowers: Alliances for Education,” funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth, is secured through the end of 2027—and with it, the Fonds' “Global Village Kids” fundign program. In a joint appeal, the program partners present a remarkable track record for the federal program and call for its continuation beyond 2027.
Tags
-
And the winners are...
16 Mar 2026
The 2026 Tabori Prize from the Fonds Darstellende Künste goes to raumlaborberlin—and we extend our warmest congratulations to HELLERAU on winning the Federal Theatre Prize. The award ceremony will take place on April 17, 2026, at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
Tags
-
GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS – Art for a New Generation
26 Feb 2026
What happens when children and young people shape the world through art?
GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS opens creative spaces — in rural regions and across the digital universe. The funding program brings together the independent performing arts and cultural education, empowering young people who have had limited access to culture.Tags
-
Fond kicks off funding year 2026 – an overview
15 Jan 2026
The Fonds Darstellende Künste (Performing Arts Fund) is kicking off its 2026 funding year with new programs – but also new challenges. Steffen Klewar, program director at the Fonds, presents all of the funding programs in this video.
Tags
-
Funding year 2026: Fund responds to new challenges
08 Jan 2026
Although funding for the Fonds has been stabilised in the 2026 federal budget, this cannot compensate for the consequences of the complete cancellation of nationwide projects and networks. In order to safeguard artistic work despite foreseeable deficits and structural gaps, the Fonds is making adjustments to its funding program.
Tags
-
“Not appropriate”: Why cuts to the culture budget threaten the independent scene
04 Dec 2025
Funding for the independent performing arts is falling from €22 million (2024) to €8.5 million – a cut of two-thirds. Holger Bergmann warns that this jeopardizes cultural freedom and innovative strength. The Fonds is calling on the BKM to take countermeasures.
Tags
-
Review: Funded Projects in 2025
© Boris Barukcic
02 Dec 2025
In our annual review, we provide an insight into the wide range of projects that were realized in 2025 in all of the funds' funding programs. The compiled image gallery presents a selection of supported productions, premieres, and events, illustrating the breadth and quality of the artistic practice that was made possible by the Fonds' funding. View now on Instagram.
Tags
-
Joint appeal from the independent performing arts
01 Dec 2025
The culture and media budget allocated to the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), Minister of State Wolfram Weimer, will increase to around €2.57 billion in 2026 – yet essential structures of the independent performing arts remain unsecured.
Tags
-
Art requires freedom and courage
15 Oct 2025
The Fonds managing director, Holger Bergmann, looks back on two intensive days of events, the results of the individual workshops, important insights from the panel discussions and statements: Art needs freedom and courage to face current social challenges, art needs stable funding beyond the logic of individual projects – and it needs “alliances that are bigger than ourselves.”
Tags
-
Tabori Preis 2025 | Das war die Preisverleihung
15 Oct 2025
On September 25, 2025, as part of The Show Must Go On. BUNDESTREFFEN25 at HAU Hebbel am Ufer, the Tabori Prize was awarded for the 16th time—the highest national award for the independent performing arts. The 2025 Tabori Prize went to pulk fiktion. Highlights from the award ceremony can be found here.
Tags
-
Black Box - White Cube: New narratives, diversity of forms, aesthetic risks or ancient blockages?
© Dorothea Tuch
13 Oct 2025
Independent performing arts create spaces for diversity, empathy, and social renewal—beyond market logic and political appropriation. Heinrich Horwitz summarizes the artists' workshop and advocates for protection, participation, and stable funding structures.
Tags
-
Taking responsibility: Who represents whom and how?
© Dorothea Tuch
13 Oct 2025
Legitimacy, participation, and resources are key prerequisites—supplemented by creative competence, cooperation, and structural support. Anna Steinkamp and Helge-Björn Meyer summarized the workshop for interest groups at BUNDESTREFFEN25 as a plea for strong, agile organizations in the independent scene.
Tags