Blog
-
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
-
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
-
Was ist das Spiel mit der Welt?
© Magdalena Emmerig
19 Nov 2024
Am 13. November 2024 hat ein breites Bündnis aus der Berliner Kulturlandschaft zum öffentlichen Protest gegen die geplanten Kürzungen im Berliner Kulturhaushalt aufgerufen. Gegen die Kürzungen sprach sich auch Heinrich Horwitz als Initiator*in der Petition „An den Freien Künsten zu sparen, kostet zu viel“ in einer Rede aus – hier zum Nachlesen:
Tags
-
Massive Kürzungen bei den Bundeskulturfonds zeugen von keiner konsistenten und nachhaltigen Förderung der freien Kunst- und Kulturszene
-
"There can be no simple positions"
© Björn Frers
13 May 2024
On May 24, the Fonds Darstellende Künste is launching a series of programs that invite people to attend performances, workshops and discussions at nine locations in and around theaters in eight German cities. The Bundesweiten Foren will focus on major concepts such as democracy and freedom, contradictory perspectives, encounters and art. In an interview with Elisabeth Wellershaus, Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fonds, talks about the background to THE ART OF STAYING MANY.
Tags
-
Review of the 2023 funding year
07 May 2024
Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fonds Darstellende Künste, with a summary of the Fond's funding situation for 2023 and the new developments in 2024.
Tags
-
DIE KUNST VIELE ZU BLEIBEN
29 Apr 2024
The series "THE ART OF STAYING MANY" starts with the kick-off event on May 24 and 25, 2024 in Berlin and then travels on to eight different theaters, festivals and production venues. Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the fund, provides insights into the journey of the theater truck and pleads for the importance and strengthening of democracy through projects such as this one.
Tags
-
Fördersituation 2024
23 Apr 2024
Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fonds, reports on the improvements in the Fonds' funding situation compared to the time before the coronavirus pandemic.
Tags
-
Seven Pilllars It Is…
© Benjamin Krieg
30 Jan 2024
The new support architecture of the Fonds Darstellende Künste. Elena Philipp in a conversation with the program director Steffen Klewar.
Tags
-
Haushalt 2024
17 Jul 2023
The 2024 draft budget recently approved by the federal cabinet provides for a strengthening of the federal cultural promotion funds. Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fonds, thanks all those involved in this video statement.
Tags
-
Nachgefragt #2
22 Dec 2022
In einer zweiten Runde #nachgefragt beantworten wir weitere Fragen zu den Perspektiven des Fonds im Jahr 2023 und darüber hinaus.
Tags
-
Nachgefragt
24 Sep 2022
Ihr habt uns viele Fragen zu den Entwicklungen der neuen Haushaltsaufstellung und die Auswirkungen derer auf die künftigen Förderungen des Fonds gestellt. In unserem neuen Video-Format beantworten wir diese nun.
Tags
-
Fördern mit Perspektive - perspektivisch fördern?
09 Aug 2022
Mit Blick auf den aktuellen Haushaltsentwurf kann der Fonds Förderprogramme nicht wie geplant fortsetzen. Holger Bergmann über die aktuelle Situation und Perspektiven des Fonds sowie notwendige Schritte für eine Planungssicherheit der Freien Darstellenden Künste – auch nach NEUSTART KULTUR.
Mehr Mut zur Stärkung der Förderung für die freie Produktion von Kunst und Kultur!
Tags
-
2022 | #TakeHeart
29 Dec 2021
In this video, Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fonds, gives an outlook on the coming year and looks back on the challenges of the past year.
Tags
-
#TakeThatTalks | Episode 3 with Amelie Deuflhard
12 Sep 2021
In the #TakeThatTalks series the Fonds Darstellende Künste has initiated a dialogue with various guests. Together we look at the current situation for the independent performing arts and discuss possible perspectives for the time "after corona."
In the third issue, Holger Bergmann welcomes Amelie Deuflhard, Artistic Director/Intendant, Kampnagel | Hamburg.
Tags
-
#TakeThatTalks | Episode 2 with Olaf Zimmermann
03 Sep 2021
In the #TakeThatTalks series the Fonds Darstellende Künste has initiated a dialogue with various guests. Together we look at the current situation for the independent performing arts and discuss possible perspectives for the time "after corona."
In the second edition, Holger Bergmann welcomes Olaf Zimmermann, Executive Director of the German Cultural Council.
Tags
-
How to get off the Hamster Wheel
© Bernd Voelkel / Benjamin Krieg
24 Aug 2021
How is performing art actually created? With its new #TakeHeart funding package, the Fonds Darstellende Künste is asking the really big questions. In doing so, it is possible to be more open about results. Holger Bergmann talks to cultural journalist Falk Schreiber about the new funding programs.
Tags
-
#TakeHeart | New funding programs
23 Aug 2021
The Fonds is launching six new funding programs with #TakeHeart - presented in this video by Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fonds. The application process itself will start shortly.
Tags