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New Website

To mark its 10th anniversary, the Alliance of International Production Houses is launching a new website with the aim of making it clearer and more accessible. With a new design and a clear information structure, the website is intended to highlight current topics and artistic projects as well as document the work of the alliance - while meeting current standards in terms of sustainability and accessibility. The website is still under construction and some areas will be added to gradually. We hope you enjoy browsing the site!

10 years of the Alliance of International Production Houses - festive reception April 24 at Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm

English translation missing

Im April konzentrieren sich am Mousonturm viele im Rahmen des Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuer geförderte wegweisende Projekte. Aus diesem Anlass soll das 10-jährige Bestehen des Bündnisses am Abend der Frankfurt-Premiere von „News from Beyond“ von Gob Squad, das ebenfalls durch Bündnismittel gefördert wurde, am 24. April mit einem Festakt  gefeiert werden!

Der Abend beginnt um 19 Uhr mit einem Festempfang, ab 19:30 Uhr folgen würdigende Grüße und kritisch-kämpferische Festreden von

Dr. Ina Hartwig, Dezernentin für Kultur und Wissenschaft, Frankfurt am Main
Wen Hui, Choreografin und Tänzerin, Frankfurt am Main
Joana Tischkau, Choreografin und Regisseurin, Frankfurt am Main & Berlin

Im Anschluss an die Aufführung, die gegen 20:30 Uhr beginnt, feiern wir gemeinsam mit Torten, Tanz und Musik.

Weitere Infos.

Als neuestes Gemeinschaftsformat der internationalen Produktionshäuser lädt die Veranstaltungsreihe Kunst & Begegnungen vom 25. bis 27. Aprilnach Frankfurt. Dann stellt die Denkwerkstatt „Aufmachen!“ einem Netzwerk von Theaterpädagog*innen und Kunstvermittler*innen und interessiertem Publikum die Aktivitäten der Jungen Theaterwerkstatt am Zoo als bundesweit einziges Modell für ein internationales Produktionshaus für Kinder und Jugendliche vor. Die dreitägige Plattform widmet sich Fragen, wie Theater, Kunsträume und andere sich oft verschlossen zeigende Räume und Praktiken geöffnet und vielen zugänglich gemacht werden können.

‘The Why of the Whale’ by the Belgian collective Captain Boomer at Jungfernstieg opened the Claiming Common Spaces festival

Kick-off of the 10th anniversary of the Alliance of International Production Houses at Kampnagel

Over 50,000 visitors on Jungfernstieg and millions of clicks on social networks: The international art centre Kampnagel, initiator of the art action by the Belgian collective Captain Boomer, has impressively transformed the public space into a place for discourse and reflection, reaching countless people.

The background
The action marked the start of the Claiming Common Spaces festival organised by the Alliance of International Production Houses, which took place at Kampnagel from 3-5 April 2025. With a strong cultural-political discourse programme, performances and shows, the topics dominating the election campaign were bundled and negotiated from different artistic perspectives.

Stronger together
At a time when artistic means are being restricted in more and more countries, it is all the more important to send out a strong signal and establish art as an essential component of democratic, pluralistic and discursive coexistence. This is what the alliance is doing as an association of the largest international production houses of the independent arts, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and opened the anniversary at Kampnagel in Hamburg.

10 years of Alliance of International Production Houses: [Still] Claiming Common Spaces

Ten years ago, the directors of the seven largest independent performing arts institutions in Germany decided to institutionalise their exchange and increasingly intensive cooperation practices and formed the Alliance of International Production Houses. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media has been funding the alliance since the 2016/17 season. In addition to their already established programmes and practices, the Alliance theatres jointly realise special artistic projects at their respective locations, some of which last several years.

We want to honour the 10th anniversary at several events this year!

Academy for Contemporary Theatre Journalism at the ‘Nebenan/Zblízka’ festival in HELLERAU

Founded in 2019, the Academy for Contemporary Theatre Journalism aims to strengthen theatre journalism in the German-speaking world - in the conviction that public discourse on theatre, dance and performance is important for art and society. The Academy sees itself as a space of opportunity in which journalistic practices can be conceptualised, tested and put up for discussion. As part of a new cooperation with the journal Theater der Zeit, the participants of the fifth academy year will develop texts and videos that challenge and expand the understanding of cultural journalism and theatre criticism. From 5-8 February 2025, the Academy will be a guest at the ‘Nebenan/Zblízka’ festival in HELLERAU and will test new formats, writing styles and text forms in a laboratory setting. The results of the format development will be played out via the Instagram channel of Theater der Zeit: https://www.instagram.com/theaterderzeit/

Nebenan/Zblízka - Independent Art from Slovakia/Nezávislé umenie zo Slovenska
05. – 08.02.2025 in HELLERAU

In the “Nebenan” festival series, HELLERAU presents contemporary art from countries and regions where artists work under difficult political conditions. The fourth edition is dedicated to the independent performing arts scene in Slovakia, which has been upended since the parliamentary elections in October 2023.

With: Adam Dragun, Altalicious, Berlin Manson, Collective ooo, Dávid Koronczi & Co., Divadlo Štúdio tanca / Judith Sánchez Ruíz, Karol Filo & Co., Katja Dreyer & Peter Šavel, Kiki House of Velvet, Marková & Ruther, Miriam Budzáková, Open Studios with artists in residence in cooperation with Telocvičňa – Dance Residency Centre, Roman Škadra, threeiscompany & Jaro Viňarský, Yuri Korec & Co.

You can find the programme here

Clarification

The allegation made in an article by the blog Ruhrbarone that the seven cultural institutions united in the Alliance of International Production Houses have declared that they would present BDS is false. We firmly reject the accusations made in the text and are considering taking legal action for defamation. We expressly reject the boycott of Israel by BDS and also refer to our commitment to non-discrimination, which was drawn up in March 2020 and revised in February 2024 and is binding for us: ‘The international production houses united in the alliance are united by an unreserved commitment to the values of freedom, human rights, democracy, the rule of law and tolerance. We therefore reject all forms of discrimination, including racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, antiziganism, ableism, sexism, queerophobia and classism.’

Save the Date: Claiming Common Spaces 2025

The seventh edition of the festival Claiming Common Spaces will take place this year at Kampnagel in Hamburg. Save the Date: 3-5 April 2025, more information will follow soon!

HELLERAU and DFDC show ways for sustainable production

HELLERAU - European Centre for the Arts and the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company have realised the joint production ‘Join’ as part of the Federal Cultural Foundation's ‘Zero’ funding project (premiere in September 2024 at HELLERAU). The result is an opera-sized dance production that combines artistic excellence with the challenges of environmental sustainability.

The experiences and findings of the project were documented in a comprehensive production manual, which has just been published. It offers detailed insights into the work processes, the challenges and the solutions for reducing the carbon footprint. It is aimed at artists, production partners and cultural institutions pursuing similar goals.

More information is available at: www.hellerau.org/join

Impressions of TikTok - virales Theater in Düsseldorf

The first edition of the Art and Encounters event series took place at FFT Düsseldorf and tanzhaus nrw from 25-27 October 2024: Beautiful encounters, intensive discussions and inspiring insights at TikTok - viral theatre.

Further information here.

Let’s stay loud and together!

The end of the coalition and the uncertainty of the 2025 federal budget are once again exacerbating the situation in the independent arts. On the occasion of the day of action on 13 November at the Brandenburger Tor, we are standing in solidarity against the planned cuts in the cultural sector at state level, e.g. in Lower Saxony and Berlin, and in the municipalities, e.g. in Dresden and Munich.

Back in September, artists protested against the austerity measures at the Bundeskulturfonds, including the Fonds Darstellende Künste, and at the Alliance of International Production Houses - and it is still true that it doesn’t pay to cut spending on independent arts! Stop the planned cuts to the independent arts. Because a democracy needs the voice of the arts right now!

More

Petition to preserve 3sat

"We need 3sat as a platform for critical debates, as a stage for creative diversity and as the voice of European culture."
Sign the petition for the preservation of 3sat.

Press conference ‘It doesn’t pay to cut spending on independent performing arts!’

As part of the press conference ‘It doesn’t pay to cut spending on independent performing arts!’, director Heinrich Horwitz and numerous artists presented a petition against the massive funding cuts for the independent performing arts in the draft 2025 federal budget at HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin today.
Live on site as well as in text and video messages, over 20 nationally and internationally active artists appealed in statements for the draft to be corrected.

With: Heinrich Horwitz, Godehard Giese, Ilja Papatheodorou (She She Pop), Bastian Trost (Gob Squad), Nikolaus Müller-Schöll, Eisa Jocson, Tim Etchells (Forced Entertainment), Ariel Efraim Ashbel, Mable Preach, Mateja Meded, Florentina Holzinger, Alexander Karschnia (andcompany&Co. ), Helge Lindh, Christoph Marthaler, Damian Rebgetz, Kat Válastur, Cymin Samawatie, Caspar Weimann, Sibylle Peters, Milo Rau, Claire Cunningham, Joana Tischkau

You can now watch the press conference here:

It doesn’t pay to cut spending on independent performing arts!

Artists, performers, contributors and supporters of the independent art and performing arts scene in Germany issue the following urgent message to Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media: click here for the petition.

Alliance of International Production Houses threatened with shutdown

We call on the Federal Cabinet to rectify their 2025 budget decision

In its draft budget for 2025, Germany’s Federal Cabinet has decided to discontinue the funding provided to the Alliance of International Production Houses via the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. This decision is utterly contrary to the unambiguous commitment contained in the coalition agreement, which explicitly states the intention to “strengthen” the Alliance “as a driver of innovation” in the performing arts.

The Alliance of International Production Houses unites the seven largest centres of the independent performing arts in Germany. In the past several years, our production houses have consistently developed forms of intensive eye-level cooperation involving the participation of more than one thousand artists and partner organisations in Europe and across the globe. As a result of these efforts, we were able to reach audiences of hundreds of thousands of people in highly diverse urban societies throughout Germany. In doing so, we made an invaluable contribution to the safeguarding of a vibrant and democratic public sphere in this country.

The unique cooperation model embodied by the Alliance of International Production Houses renders vital structures accessible to all groups and individuals involved in the independent performing arts nationwide. The Alliance has thus proven itself to be an indispensable institutional representative of the “second pillar” of Germany’s theatre landscape, while also functioning as innovative driver of sustainable transformation for culture in Germany and beyond.

If funding to the Alliance of International Production Houses is discontinued, our seven theatres will not be able to continue their collaborative work, which includes several projects, initiatives, e.g. the academies for the professional training of freelancers in the fields of theatre communication, production and education.

We are therefore sending out this urgent appeal to all politicians in charge of budget matters and cultural policy in the German Bundestag. We demand that the decision to cut funding be rectified. The Alliance of International Production Houses bears responsibility for the independent theatre and arts scene in Germany and urgently needs stronger and more permanent funding!

Sincerely,
The artistic directors of the institutions that make up the Alliance of International Production Houses

Kathrin Tiedemann, FFT Düsseldorf
Annemie Vanackere, HAU Hebbel am Ufer Berlin
Carena Schlewitt, HELLERAU Europäisches Zentrum der Künste Dresden
Amelie Deuflhard, Kampnagel Hamburg
Anna Wagner , Marcus Droß, Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt a.M.
Stefan Hilterhaus, PACT Zollverein Essen
Ingrida Gerbutavičiūtė, tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf

Statement as pdf

Statement on international invitation policy

In February 2024, the Kampnagel team wrote a statement on the international invitation policy. We, the members of the Alliance of International Production Houses, share Kampnagel’s position. The statement can be found here.

Claiming Common Spaces VI at HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin

A weekend full of inspiration, empowerment and community solidarity lies behind us. For the sixth edition of Claiming Common Spaces, HAU became the “House of Solidarity”, focusing on the realities of life in the migration society, curated by Transforming Solidarities. The initiative brought together a variety of voices to take a stand against hatred and exclusion. Discussions, comedy, music and shared food provided the framework to listen, remember and, above all, imagine together. At a time when solidarity is needed more urgently than ever, ways and visions for inclusive coexistence were developed and exchanged. Because this is the challenge we face every day: Defending the migration society and reinventing our divided world.

Thank you to all the people who took part in this weekend – it gives us courage for the future!

The Bündnis congratulates Forced Entertainment on its 40th anniversary!

"40 years of stage magic: With their contemporary theater language, the British performance group Forced Entertainment has inspired generations of theater makers." – Sarah Heppekausen for kultur.west

We agree and congratulate Forced Entertainment on their 40th anniversary! Forced Entertainment are celebrating their birthday with the world premiere of their new piece “Signal to Noise” at PACT Zollverein on 21-23.03.24. “Signal to Noise” can be seen at Mousonturm on 19-21.4.24 and at HAU Hebbel am Ufer on 24-26.4.24.

Tim Etchells in an interview on 40 years of Forced Entertainment & Signal to Noise. For more information PACT Zollverein.

HELLERAU 20 – 23.03.2024: Festival Nebenan/Mellettünk
Independent art from Hungary  

In the “Nebenan” series, HELLERAU regularly presents contemporary art from regions where artists work under difficult political conditions. Following Nebenan Belarus (2022) and Nebenan Ukraine (2023), HELLERAU 2024 is dedicated to the independent performing arts scene in Hungary. “Nebenan/Mellettünk” invites you to experience a variety of contemporary artistic works, to enter into conversation about the history of Hungary and its current political situation, to exchange ideas, to network and to end the evenings with a concert and party.

To the festival brochure (german language only)!
More information on the HELLERAU website!

Joint travel policy in the alliance of international production companies

With the joint travel policy, the Alliance of International Production Houses is taking a further step towards climate-friendly production and presentation of the arts with a focus on low-emission mobility. All Alliance venues undertake to follow the guidelines adopted in the travel policy for all trips they organise. The travel policy applies from the beginning of 2024.

In line with the programme of the internationally operating institutions, regular trips are required. The further development of concepts for more sustainable forms of travel and production is therefore an important concern for us. With the travel policy, the Alliance Houses want to encourage employees, cooperation partners, artistic, technical and administrative production teams to always contribute to a culture of resource conservation. In doing so, they set a concrete starting point for further necessary changes to the work within the venues that go beyond the area of travel and touring.

The travel policy can be found here.

Statement on the attack against Israel

We strongly condemn the terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel and the murder and abduction of civilians. We reject any form of support and downplaying of this violence and deem it as completely unacceptable. Our sympathy goes out to the relatives of the victims and to all people affected by the violence in the region.

New Coordination Network CooProg: Thinking together climate goals and cultural production.

CooProg is an international open source platform where curators share their programming to enable coordinated touring of artists and companies. The goal is to limit the ecological footprint in the performing arts. The new internet platform was officially launched on October 2, 2023. Production houses are involved in the conceptualization and testing of the tool. The free platform is aimed at theaters based in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland in a launch phase (until March 2024).

More information about CooProg can be found here, as well as CooProg’s self-image here.

Solidarity concerts for people in and from Ukraine

On 12, 13 and 14 March, the Bündnishäuser Mousonturm Frankfurt a.M., HELLERAU - European Centre for the Arts, Dresden and FFT Düsseldorf are organising the solidarity concerts ‘Mariana Sadovska & Friends’.

Here are some impressions of the deeply moving evenings.

Statement of Solidarity with the Ukrainian people

The Alliance of International Production Houses condemns in the strongest possible terms the invasion and start of war by Russian troops in Ukraine and the related blatant violation of international law. We are shocked by the extent of the violation of human rights, the violence against the Ukrainian population and the extraordinary threat to peace in Europe.

We declare our solidarity with all peace-loving people and we stand up for the protection of democratic, open societies. As internationally working production houses, we use our contacts and networks to give a voice to and stand by threatened artists and colleagues with our means and work programmes.

Альянс міжнародних виробників рішуче засуджує початок війни і вторгнення російських військ в Україну та пов’язане з цим різке порушення міжнародного права. Ми шоковані рівнем порушень прав людини, насильством проти українського населення та надзвичайною загрозою миру в Європі.

Ми заявляємо про нашу солідарність з усіма миролюбними людьми і стаємо на захист демократичних, відкритих суспільств. Як міжнародні виробникі, ми використовуємо наші контакти та мережі, щоб надати голос митцям і колегам, яким загрожує небезпека, і підтримати їх у наших можливостях та робочих програмах.