Open Call: Delegation Trip to the 2026 Edition of Fringify – Independent Arts Festival Hamburg

As part of Bridging the Scenes and with the goal of sustainably networking the communities in Berlin and Hamburg, we are making it possible for Berlin-based producers, artists and curators in the independent performing arts community to attend Fringify - Independent Arts Festival in Hamburg from June 4 to 7, 2026.

About Fringify – Independent Arts Festival Hamburg

Fringify is a platform for experimental art and independent theater. At different locations in Hamburg, the festival presents work, questions conventions, connects disciplines and considers aesthetic, political and social marginalities. The 12th edition of Fringify will take place from June 4 to 7, 2026 – with a schedule of programming full of artistic curiosity and societal urgency. Productions from Hamburg’s independent performing arts community will meet regional and national contributions from guests – and open up spaces for encounters, resistance and shared reflection.

About Bridging the Scenes 

The Fringify Festival is part of the network Bridging The Scenes and we regularly organize delegation trips to the network’s partner organizations. All participating festivals and organizations increase the visibility of their local community and actively draw attention to the cultural policy dimension of working independently. 

About the Delegation Trip

By attending the festival, the participants receive insight into Hamburg’s independent performing arts community and get to know its members, aesthetics and working methods. At the same time, they enter into exchanges with Hamburg artists, producers, presenters and amplifiers in order to sustainably expand their networks and strengthen future working relationships as well as cooperations between the two cities. A detailed schedule of events for the trip will be announced to the participants selected. A mandatory requirement for participation is availability during the entire time period of the delegation trip (June 4 to 7, 2026).

Alongside attending the festival’s programming and discussing the productions presented within it, the specific networking of the independent performing arts communities in both cities is a focus of the trip. Another focus is an exchange about jury processes within the respective funding structures: how are projects selected? What criteria make up the selection process? What connects and what differentiates the work in Hamburg and Berlin? On the Friday morning, June 5, there will be an event during the festival that is explicitly dedicated to the jury processes in Hamburg and Berlin. 

Application Criteria

Who Is This Open Call Intended For?

Berlin-based artists with production responsibility as well as production managers who are following the establishment of cooperations with members of Hamburg’s independent performing arts community and who are interested in the exchange about jury processes as well as funding policy decision-making structures can apply.

What Will Be Covered?

The travel and accommodation costs as well as the tickets for the performance during the festival will be paid for by the Berlin Performing Arts Program. 

What Should Be Submitted?

For the application, we ask you to please send us a CV in PDF format (without a photo) as well as a statement of motivation (max. 1,500 characters) that expresses the specific interest in conducting an exchange with the community in Hamburg. Please answer the following questions:

• What specific goals am I following in the establishment of cooperations and collaborations with Hamburg’s independent performing arts community? What expectations do I have about attending the festival?
• What interests do I have in terms of jury processes and what questions do I want to bring?

You are welcome to submit the statement of motivation in text form or in audio form! When drafting your statement of motivation, please note the following lengths and format information:

• Text: max. 1,500 characters (including blank spaces) as a PDF file
• Audio: 1 to 3 minutes, as a mp3 or wav file

Important Note:

• If you decide to use the option audio or video, these absolutely must be submitted in the requested formats (mp3, wav). Files submitted in other formats will unfortunately not be able to be taken into consideration. Sending a portfolio containing selected works of yours is optional. The representation of the diversity of society within our structures is our goal. As a result, we expressly invite representatives of marginalized perspectives to apply.
• Everyone who would like to join the trip must be available for the entire period of the delegation trip (June 4 to 7, 2026). A shorter period of participation will only be considered in cases with very compelling reasons.