Information Event of the Performing Arts Program & Summer Party of LAFT Berlin

Summer is just around the corner, the nights are getting longer and the sun is finally warming up Berlin and the Berliners. This is the perfect time of year for our annual information event following by our summer party and we are very pleased to invite you to join us!

Well-functioning networks, lively relationships and new contacts are absolutely indispensable for working within Berlin’s independent performing arts community. Our annual information event offers you the opportunity to come together, exchange and inform yourselves about current cultural policy developments as well as all of the opportunities provided by the Berlin Performing Arts Program. What events are coming up? Which experts can I be advised by (free of charge) on which topics? When is the next delegation trip or shared visit to a trade fair coming? And what can we look forward to during the Freien Szene Tagen (Days of the Independent Performing Arts Community) event this fall? 

3:00 pm to 7:00 pm Information, Networking Meeting & Workshops 
7:00 pm Official Words of Welcome, Introduction and Panel Discussion “Less Is More?! – Remodeling Berlin’s Cultural Sector”
From 8:30 pm Networking and Exchanges with Food and Music

Something that is very special this year is that colleagues from the initiative for an archive of the independent performing arts will provide insights into the art of self-archiving over the course of a workshop. In addition, in the evening representatives from Berlin’s cultural landscape will discuss the necessary or threatening structural changes to smaller and larger institutions. 

To close out the event, we will celebrate the summer and all of the newly forged contacts! While enjoying cool drinks, good food and music, we are already looking forward to bringing things to a festive end with you. 

Schedule of Events

From 3 pm

Accreditation

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Information Stands & Networking

Multilingual.

At the information stands of the Performing Arts Program and the FAIRSTAGE project, we offer detailed insights into our activities, advisory services, and opportunities for participation – and explain why becoming a member of LAFT Berlin is worthwhile.

3:30 to 5:00 pm

Cultural Funding Act (Kulturfördergesetz): First Meeting of the Working Group “Performing Arts and Dance”

In German spoken language.

A Cultural Funding Act for Berlin has long been a demand, a political promise for the future of culture, and at the same time a major challenge in its implementation. Although the Cultural Funding Act initiative has already done a great deal of preliminary work, much remains to be done. In April 2025, the Berlin Culture Conference launched a participation process centered around 15 working groups. One of these groups focuses on the field of “Performing Arts and Dance” and invites interested parties to its first meeting during the information event. All stakeholders interested in the Berlin Cultural Funding Act are invited to join the discussion and contribute to the working group.

Participation is only possible after prior registration by June 30, 2025, via: kfg-fachgruppe [at] laft-berlin.de

Further information on the Berlin Cultural Funding Act is available at: https://www.kulturfoerderngesetz.de/

4:30 pm to 6 pm

Digitales Archiv der Freien Darstellenden Künste (DAFDK, the Digital Archive of the Independent Performing Arts Community): From the Box to the Web – Introduction to Archiving

With Dr. Henning Fülle, Siegmar Schröder, Prof. Dr. Paul Klimpel and the projetc team of DAFDK – Barbara Jennerwein, Wilma Renfordt, Steffen Wedepohl

In German spoken language.

The independent performing arts need an archive! With the Digitalen Archiv der Freien Darstellenden Künste (DAFDK, the Digital Archive of the Independent Performing Arts Community), an openly accessible digital platform for documents and materials pertaining to artistic productions and working processes is currently in the process of being created. 

Anyone keeping archival materials will be able to index their objects by themselves on the platform. Over the course of the archive camp, the participants will receive a quick guide covering all of the steps of the archiving. At four stations, they will meet archive experts and, afterward, they will be able to get started with indexing within the digital archive. In doing so, all of the important topics will be discussed: what objects can be taken into consideration for the archive? What does copyright allow and what does it not allow? What has to be kept in mind when it comes to the digitalization of analog material? And how can materials be archived safely and securely? Also: how can marginalized perspectives be made visible? 

At the end, participants are invited to begin cataloguing directly and test the beta version of the platform.

What you need to participate: An object or document from your own artistic practice that you would like to archive—this could be a photo, program booklet, rehearsal schedule, or other material from the past or present of the independent performing arts.
To test the digital platform, you will need a laptop.

The number of participants is limited. Please register by June 25, 2025, at sommerfest [at] pap-berlin.de.

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Networking Meeting & Peer-to-Peer Exchange for Theater Scouts and Community and Neighborhood Projects (closed event)

Theater Scoutings Berlin has offered mediation formats into the independent performing arts community for many years now. Since last year, the Berlin Performing Arts Program has also supported selected community and neighborhood projects. The networking meeting will make encounters possible, as well as exchanges about projects that have already been realized or are yet to be implemented as well as mutual learning through good practice examples and skill sharing.

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Meet & Greet the Experts from the Information Center (closed event)

In German and English spoken language.

Christin Eckart and Christiane Kretschmer are pleased to invite the advisors, instructors and mentor of the Information Center to attend an informal meeting in order to get to know each and to see each other again, whichever the case may be. Here there will be space to enter into conversations about one’s own advisement practice and to discuss the coming challenges for the independent performing arts community as well as consequences for those seeking advisement.
 

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Meet & Greet the Pilot Project FAIRSTAGE

Since 2021, the pilot project FAIRSTAGE has worked continuously to achieve good working conditions at theaters in Berlin that are free from discrimination. Part of the work is maintaining a close exchange with Berlin’s cultural landscape. Over the course of this information event, the FAIRSTAGE team will invite everyone who is interested to enter into a relaxed exchange: anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about the working fields, recommendations and visions for the future of the project or to provide their own perspectives is in exactly the right place here – for a conversation about fair work in the theater!

 

5:30 to 6:30 pm

Discussion: Cultural Policy Frameworks

In German spoken language.

LAFT Berlin invites you to join an informal conversation about the current background and conditions for cultural production in Berlin. What has happened in recent weeks? What cultural policy decisions have been made? What initiatives have been announced? This format offers space for collegial exchange and questions, and welcomes all interested parties — with or without prior knowledge of cultural policy processes.

6:30 pm to 7 pm

Break with Snacks

7 pm to 8:30 pm

Panel Discussion “Less Is More?! – Remodeling Berlin’s Cultural Sector”

With Joana Tischkau (choreographer, artist, performer), Anna Tenti (Genossenschaft Deutscher Bühnen-Angehöriger GDBA /Cooperative of German Stage Members – GDBA), Sabine Kroner (Berlin Mondiale), Janina Benduski (LAFT Berlin – Berlin State Association for the Independent Performing Arts), and more guests

Moderated by: Susanne Burkhardt (Deutschlandradio Kultur)

We warmly welcome all attendees to this year’s information event and will provide a brief overview of upcoming tasks for the association and its projects. Afterwards, the cultural policy panel will focus on current developments affecting our working and production conditions: The cuts being made to the budget of the state of Berlin, funding programs that are being discontinued and scarcer project funds are placing independent structures as well as the state’s own institutions under pressure – and forcing difficult decisions that hardly anyone wants to make, or even can. How can projects and processes that have already been started be continued and finalized? Which premieres will be able to be realized and which jobs can be saved?

Half a year after the initial budget cuts have entered into force, the panel discussion will feature different perspectives from the areas of art, advocacy and administration in order to reflect upon the current state of things together and to consider how the coming, difficult decisions can be made. In doing so, the panelists will not only look at the “project ruins” and sketch out plans for the “spinning off” of the state’s own stages, but also take a look at the newly achieved solidarities and possible visions for stronger and more intense cooperations.

From 8:30 pm

Networking and Exchanges with Food and Music

Registration

Participation in this event is free of charge. Please register by June 30, 2025, to sommerfest [at] pap-berlin.de.

Accessibility

Type of Event

The information event by the Berlin Performing Arts Program is a professional gathering by and for colleagues from the independent performing arts scene and Berlin's cultural landscape. Through workshops, networking formats, and a panel discussion, it will address current topics in cultural policy as well as working and production conditions.

The atmosphere is intended to be focused yet collegial and relaxed. Breaks are scheduled throughout the day. Unfortunately, there are no dedicated quiet rooms, but the grounds of ZK/U Berlin offer outdoor spaces for retreat.

Accessibility On Site

The event will take place at ZK/U (Center for Art and Urbanistics), Siemensstr. 27, 10551 Berlin.

• Accessibility: The event spaces (hall, glass house, terrace) are located on the ground floor and can be accessed via a ramp. One of the workshops will take place on the first floor, which is accessible by elevator. The elevator is located at the back of the ZK/U building and can be reached via the terrace. Our team will be happy to assist you in finding your way.
• Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are available.

More detailed information about the individual spaces, including floor plans, can be found in the ZK/U portfolio (only available in German).

Language

The event will primarily be held in German spoken language. During discussions, English spoken language may be used if all participants agree. If needed, a whisper translation can be provided. Please request this by June 17, 2025, by emailing sommerfest [at] pap-berlin.de.

Options for Food and Drink

Coffee, tea, and tap water will be available during the event. In addition, there will also be some fruit and cookies. We will also offer a vegetarian and vegan dinner, toward the end of the event. In addition, you can purchase additional drinks at your own expense.

Contact

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Sarah Stührenberg at sarah.stuehrenberg [at] pap-berlin.de or by phone at +49 30 20 45 979 14 (Thursdays, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm).