How can artistic practices strengthen communities, foster participation, and help shape social processes? These are questions that many members of the Freie Szene have long been grappling with, and as a result, Berlin’s independent performing arts community features a wide variety of projects and initiatives focused on artistic community work.

The Berlin Performing Arts Program is also active in this area: Since 2024, we have been supporting selected community and neighborhood projects; at SPIELRAUM – the Days of the Independent Performing Arts Community in Berlin, we focus on connection and participation; and through events such as the “common pARTs” symposium, we bring together knowledge on this topic.

This initiative has now resulted in our new publication, “ART. COMMUNITY. WORK: Ideas and Tips for Artistic Community Work”. The publication is aimed at all members of the Freie Szene who are already implementing community projects or looking to get started in this field. Five chapters explore key aspects—ranging from a critical definition of the term to building connections and relationships, all the way to funding and typical production issues. The publication is supplemented by short profiles of the community and neighborhood projects we support, as well as a service section providing an overview of the many points of contact, tools and funding opportunities that already exist in Berlin.

Enjoy reading!