The Alliance of International Production Houses is among the foremost associations within Germany. FFT Düsseldorf (Forum Freies Theater), HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Berlin), HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste (Dresden), Kampnagel (Hamburg), Künstlerhaus Mousonturm (Frankfurt am Main), PACT Zollverein (Essen) and tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf) all channel their abilities and experiences as central stakeholders in culture and sociopolitics, bringing international perspectives into a continuous, open and diverse exchange with local artists, local groups of audiences, as well as with diverse urban societies. The Office of the Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media has been supporting the Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser with a sum of 12 million since the 2016/17 season, for a total duration of three years.
This support enables the production venues to realise special artistic endeavours together as well as on their respective sites, sometimes spanning several years, and going beyond their customary programmes and practices. They deal with the economic, social, cultural and ecological urban and global changes in the 21st century, playfully exploring the future of society, theatre, dance and art, exemplarily trying out scenarios of communal living. Furthermore, the venues connect their competency in the ongoing development of advanced means of production in the field of performative art and their far-reaching local and international networks more closely than before.
Tried practices can be further developed and expanded, with an eye towards the future, in this decentralised co-operational model; among them, for example, the possibility of artistic residencies, commissioned works, co-productions and site-specific project development as well as the consolidation, the artistic agency for and strengthening of artistic positions on a trans-regional and international scale and for local contexts. So, the Bündnis has set up, among other things, an academy for freelancing producers, and it is accordingly significantly involved in an occupational area that is gaining in importance.
CLAIMING COMMON SPACES
Since 2018, the joint project “Claiming Common Spaces” has been taking place annually at different venues. With this focus, the alliance of international production houses brought together artistic approaches, contributions, and work statuses of the seven participating partners.
As a member of the Alliance of International Production Houses, HAU Hebbel am Ufer was among the theatres that were able to support the granting and implementation of numerous #TakeCare and #TakeHeart residencies from October 2020 to May 2023. Under the banner of “DACH” the Performing Arts Fund launched a residency programme for Ukrainian artists in Germany with funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
In March 2020, the Alliance of International Production Houses has released a committment to non-discrimination.
2026: END OF FUNDING
The 2026 federal budget no longer provides for the alliance of international production houses. This means that a successful cooperation model for the establishment, development and internationalisation of the independent performing arts no longer has the support of federal cultural policy. Thanks to cooperative funding from Fonds Darstellende Künste (Performing Arts Fund) and residual funds, we will still be able to realise one more edition of the festival “Claiming Common Spaces” in 2026. The eighth edition of the annual festival format will take place from 10 to 12 September 2026 in Düsseldorf, organised by the production houses tanzhaus nrw and FFT Düsseldorf.
In our view, nationwide networking as an alliance of international production houses is essential. Accordingly, we will continue to actively campaign for our work to be funded again.
