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.
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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.
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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.”
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„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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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Art needs reliability – the time to act is now
© Benjamin Krieg
04 Sep 2025
Systematic funding requires the corresponding political will - A personal contribution by Holger Bergmann, managing director of the Fonds Darstellende Künste
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Transformationsinfarkt
© Benjamin Krieg
10 Feb 2025
Nuremberg, 07. February 2025. From the opening speech of the annual meeting of the Dramaturgische Gesellschaft by Holger Bergmann, managing director of the Fonds Darstellende Künste
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Perspektive 2025!
13 Jan 2025
The Fonds will receive further funding from the budget of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media for the funding year 2025. A total of 7.6 million euros will be available to support the independent performing arts - a strong signal in challenging times. This means that the cut is less than initially announced. Managing Director Holger Bergmann explains the background, consequences and associated prospects for the Fonds in a video statement.
We provide a comprehensive review of the 2025 budget cuts here.
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Spielräume für Kunst und Gesellschaft
21 Nov 2024
Kürzungen beim Bund und nun in den Ländern Thüringen, Berlin, NRW und Niedersachsen sowie in Städten wie München, Dresden und Köln. Wieso ist dieser Umgang mit der Kultur in unterschiedlichen Regierungskonstellationen gerade so en Vogue? - Holger Bergmann gibt einen Überblick über die aktuelle Fördersituation des Fonds und erste Konsequenzen für die Künste.
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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:
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Perspective 2025?
31 Jul 2024
The federal government is cutting the funding of the Federal Cultural Fund by around 50% for the coming year. For the Performing Arts Fund, this means €5.6 million instead of €10.3 million. In a video statement, Holger Bergmann, Managing Director of the Fund, gives an outlook on the consequences for the independent performing arts and makes an appeal to the Federal Government and the Minister of State for Culture.
(In German only)
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Massive Kürzungen bei den Bundeskulturfonds zeugen von keiner konsistenten und nachhaltigen Förderung der freien Kunst- und Kulturszene
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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