July 19th, 2024 – 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!