Performing Arts Summer Gathering

This year as well, we are very pleased to warmly invite everyone in the independent performing arts community and their allies to our summer gathering! 

We will inform you about the current programming and invite you to take a look at the future with us at info tables, in workshops as well as in working and networking meetings. What has been achieved? What new ideas are there to continue to support the independent performing arts in challenging times? We will discuss current studies and figures about the independent arts community with politicians, administrators, scholars and artistic practitioners about the relevance of the independent arts and possible strategies for protecting them. After this, we are looking forward to networking and discussions with food and music – for a strong, solidary community!

Schedule of Events

2:30 pm Accreditation
 

3 pm Workshop for theater scouts (closed event)

In German spoken language

Post-performance discussions can have a great potential for connecting audiences, they can offer space to confidentially share what has been experienced and to become acquainted with other points of view. Special skills are needed for the role of a moderator: how can I create an atmosphere where both the artistic team as well as the audience feel seen and heard? What position do I take on myself? And how do I prepare a post-performance discussion so that I feel prepared, even in difficult situations? 

In this workshop facilitated by Amelie Mallmann, we will explore these situations and, based on your experiences, look at possible ways to prepare and realize post-performance discussions productively.

4:30 pm An Invitation to the Future: The Berlin Kulturfördergesetz  (Cultural Funding Law)
Report and Open Working Meeting for the Specialist Group Performing Arts, Theaters and Dance

In German spoken language

From April 2025 to February 2026, the Berliner Kulturkonferenz organized a process to discuss and collect perspectives and positions with the people who make up Berlin’s cultural landscape in preparation for a Berlin Kulturfördergesetz (cultural funding law) in 15 specialist groups with more 120 participants. 

The results were published in February 2026 and can be found here: https://kulturfoerderngesetz.de/ 

The specialist group Performing Arts, Theaters and Dance brought together a variety of perspectives from artistic practice, advocacy work and union representation over the course of multiple meetings.  The written contribution that now exists is an initial work-in-progress. The joint work will be continued in the second half of 2026 with the respective communities. 

Over the course of an open meeting, some of the participants will report on the state of the work-in-progress and answer questions. We invite everyone who is interested to join the next phase of voluntary work and are now getting started with the planning.  All levels of knowledge and all questions are welcome. This is, however, really a working meeting.

5 pm Joint Think Tank of the Experts from the Information Center (closed event)

In German and English spoken language.

Christiane Kretschmer and Christin Eckart invite the advisors, instructors and mentors of the Information Center as well as representatives of other advisement structures to discuss and consider together: which topics are currently shaping our advisement and qualification practice? What challenges are we encountering in advisement and mentoring in challenging times? How do we ensure that our knowledge is up-to-date? How do we support in a way that is simultaneously empowering and realistic? How do we offer attentive support that is sensitive to discrimination and professional advice within our competencies? How do we preserve boundaries and how do we help those seeking advice to self-efficacy and autonomy? 

We want to talk about our own advisement and qualification practice as well as possible challenges and to look at topics, desires and needs together that we would like to explore and take a more in-depth look at during our symposium on expert qualification in the fall. 

5 pm Networking Meeting for the Participants of the FAIRSTAGE Fellowships for Cultural Policy (closed event)

In German spoken language

The FAIRSTAGE Fellowship is a program that has offered people from marginalized groups space and resources for their professional development and further education within cultural policy organization since 2023. This year, Luise Würth and Lonnie Lou Jasper are bringing together all former FAIRSTAGE fellows in order to continue to support their cultural policy work. This initial meeting offers space for the fellows to get to know each other and network across the three years of the program as well as to discuss future plans, their respective experiences and to share their expertise.

5 pm Deep Dive: Backgrounds and Methods of Audience Research

In German spoken language

The Berlin Performing Arts Program has offered qualification and the transfer of knowledge for years on the topic of audience research and visitor studies and surveys to cultural institutions in Berlin. In this format, which is facilitated by Sarah Stührenberg, and which is open for all interested parties, we will look at measures that have already been realized and summarized learned methods and insights. What else does the community need in order to obtain data-based insight about its visitors and visitor structures? 

5:30 pm Presentation of the Publication ART. COMMUNITY. WORK. Ideas and Tips for Artistic Community Work 

In German spoken language

The Berlin Performing Arts Program has focused more strongly on artistic community work for some time: since 2024, we have supported community and neighborhood projects, encounters and participation are the focus of SPIELRAUM – Berlin Days of the Independent Performing Arts Community and we bundle knowledge in our events for professionals. The publication ART. COMMUNITY. WORK. Ideas and Tips for Artistic Community Work is a result of this focus. It is intended for members of the independent performing arts community who have already realized community projects or are looking to get started working in this field.

The contributions by the authors illuminate central aspects of artistic community work – from a critical look at terms to encounters and relationship work all the way to financing and typical production questions. The publication is supplemented by short portraits of community and neighborhood projects we have supported as well as a comprehensive service section.

Florian Hohnhorst and Linus Lutz invite you to the launch of the publication and look forward to celebrating it with you! 
 

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Meet and Greet – National and International Relationships

In German and English spoken language

The colleagues Catherine Launay and Tubi Malcharzik constantly develop national and international relationships, maintain networks and connect artists in Berlin with artists across the world. During the summer gathering, they will speak with visitors and provide information about trips to coming trade fairs, delegation trips and opportunities to network (even better) nationally and internationally!

6:30 pm to 7 pm Break with Drinks and Snacks
 

7 pm Keynote Speeches & Discussion About the Relevance of the Independent Arts

In German spoken language

Budget cuts and changes in social as well as political values have been challenging the (independent) arts for some years already. Regardless, the independent arts community continues to create and expand upon long-term strategies for strengthening their abilities to produce and present, are forming alliances with civil and urban society and creating spaces for participation, exchange and relationship work. The success can be seen in the statistics: recently published key performance indicators from the city of Leipzig and specific data on the location factor of culture as well as cultural participation in Berlin show the influence and significance of the independent arts community, the Freie Szene. 

Over the course of keynote speeches by Sebastian Göschel (the Cultural Office of Leipzig) and others, we will look at this data and what it can mean for cultural policy strategies as well as programmatic strategies.  Culture makers and artists as well as representatives from the field of politics will discuss coming future fields of action with each other. There will also be new information about opportunities for the independent performing arts in Berlin – and beyond. 

9 pm Conversations & Celebration with Food & Music

Language

If nothing to the contrary is specifically written, the events will take place iprimarily n German spoken language. If necessary, simultaneous personal interpretation into English spoken language can be organized.

Accessibility On-Site

The event takes place in Junges Tanzhaus Berlin. You can find all of the information about the accessibility of the location here: https://junges-tanzhaus-berlin.de/de/barrierefreiheit 

Food and Drink

Coffee, tea and tap water will be provided during the event. There will also be fruit and cookies. Toward the end of the event, we will provide a vegetarian and a vegan dinner. In addition, it is possible to purchase additional kinds of drinks.