We are looking for ten participants who see themselves as producers in the independent performing arts in Germany and would like to develop or expand their own work practice transnationally in the support of a companion. The companionship programme will be held in English. Our companionship programme addresses independent creative producers, production managers, managers, colleagues of independent production offices and non-commercial agencies, agents and distributors in the independent performing arts.
The participants must have their tax residence in Germany. The open call is not aimed at self-producing artists. In the digital companionship programme, one companion with transnational expertise supports one participant in the development and expansion of their own transnational working practice as a producer in the independent performing arts. The ten companionship duos will each spend six individual companionship sessions independently and self-organised in the digital space with a focus on personal exchange of experience and knowledge on transnational contexts and relationships.
We will accompany the six individual sessions in the respective duo constellations with digital supporting events: a common kick-off and closing meeting, informal meetings between the companions and participants, a moderated reflection session and three public inputs on selected topics of the programme. The companionship programme starts on Thursday, Applications are only possible via our online form until The open call is also available to read as pdf here. Producing in a transnational context has so far played a secondary role in the German funding landscape, which is reflected in the little developed or even non-existent mobility and touring funding for some sectors.
This situation has been intensified by the effects of the covid pandemic. At the same time, dealing with the consequences of the pandemic and the challenges of the climate crisis opens up different opportunities to think and shape transnational and international relationships in the independent performing arts.
Producers and those working in creative production often generously share their knowledge among each other and with many other protagonists and groups in the scene. They create connections and become allies. However, they are rarely supported in this. The companionship programme is addressing this practice and the questions associated with it.
