Open Call: Delegationtrip "Bridging The Scenes" to the ACT Independent Theatre Festival in Sofia 2026

The independent performing arts communities of Berlin meets Sofia!

As part of Bridging the Scenes, and with the aim of fostering sustainable connections between the independent performing arts communities of Berlin and Sofia (Bulgaria), we are offering four Berlin-based artists, producers and curators the opportunity to attend ACT Independent Theatre Festival Sofia 2026.

From 21 to 25 October 2026, participants will have the chance to connect with peers, discover the local independent performing arts scene, exchange ideas and practices, and hopefully lay the groundwork for future collaborations.

About the ACT Festival

The ACT Festival is organized by the ACT Association, founded in 2009 with more than 45 members, whose main goals are to connect the independent performing arts scene in Bulgaria and to create better conditions for the professional work of independent artists and initiatives. The ACT Festival is an annual forum for autonomous artists and organizations; an exchange platform for new artistic practices as well as for national and international experts in the field of independent theater, dance and performance.

About Bridging the Scenes 

The ACT 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 ACT Festival Sofia 2026, participants will gain insight into Sofia’s independent performing arts community and connect with its artists, producers, curators, and cultural professionals. The delegation aims to foster lasting relationships and create opportunities for future collaborations between the independent performing arts communities of Berlin and Sofia.

The programme combines attendance at festival performances and events with venue visits and exchange formats, offering participants a deeper understanding of Sofia’s cultural context and independent performing arts landscape.

A detailed schedule will be shared with the selected participants. Availability for the entire delegation period (21–25 October 2026) is required.
 

Application Criteria

• Who Is This Open Call Intended For?
  Berlin-based artists with production responsibility, producers and curators, who have a concrete interest in developing their artistic or curatorial practice internationally and initiating collaborations with artists and cultural practitioners from Bulgaria are invited to 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 Sofia, Bulgaria. Please answer the following questions:
  • What are your goals for connecting and collaborating with Sofia’s independent performing arts community?
  • What do you hope to gain from participating in ACT Festival Sofia 2026?

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 (October 21 to 25, 2026). Unfortunately, applicants who are unable to participate for the full duration are not eligible for selection.