Call for Solidarity: International Production Houses in Germany threatened with shutdown
Alliance of International Production Houses in Germany threatened with shutdown
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.
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, the 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, they were able to reach audiences of hundreds of thousands of people in highly diverse urban societies throughout Germany. In doing so, they 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, the 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.
They are therefore sending out this urgent appeal to all politicians in charge of budget matters and cultural policy in the German Bundestag. They 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
