Dear members, dear friends of the independent performing arts,

Our #KunstbrauchtRaum (#ArtNeedsSpace) campaign is in full swing. Over the past few weeks, numerous artists, ensembles and venues have shared on our Instagram channel why space is much more than infrastructure: it is the foundation for artistic processes, collaboration and sustainable development. Last Tuesday, we continued this conversation at the Kulturforum Hamburg at Kampnagel (kmh) together with Amelie Deuflhard and Ulrike Steffel, discussing the campaign, the independent performing arts and the importance of Hamburg's rehearsal space funding programme. We all agreed on one thing: independent art needs affordable space. The campaign thrives on the many different perspectives within the independent scene, and we would love to feature even more contributions from you.

There have also been important developments in cultural policy over the past month. The proposed reduction of compulsory arts subjects as part of the planned reform of Hamburg's upper secondary school curriculum now appears to be off the table. However, plans to make the requirement more flexible have met with widespread criticism. Together with many partners, we continue to advocate for the importance of arts education, particularly theatre education. Our statement also includes a link to the petition as well as further background information.

We are also delighted to share good news from the Digital Archive for the Performing Arts: the nationwide collaborative project has received network funding from the Fonds Darstellende Künste. This funding will enable the archive to continue preserving and making visible the artistic work and knowledge of the independent performing arts over the long term. DfdK is one of the project's partners. Among other activities, we will be offering a practical workshop next year on how to archive your own artistic work. Stay tuned! In the meantime, we encourage you to take a look at the archive's practical guide.

And for everyone planning to spend the summer in the rehearsal room rather than the archive, we have two DfdK special offers. From 6 July to 31 August, DfdK members and independent performing arts professionals can book rehearsal space at Probebühne Gustav-Kunst for half the regular price. With approved support from the DfdK Rehearsal Space Fund, your own contribution is reduced to just €5 per day. All details are available on our website. We are also offering a second DfdK special at Varelli Studios in St. Pauli: from 10 July to 20 August, DfdK members can benefit from special discounted rates.

Before everyone disappears into summer rehearsals or well-deserved holidays, there is still plenty to experience. The 1st Harburg Theatre Festival for Young Audiences continues until 6 July, presenting ten productions by Hamburg's independent children's theatre scene alongside workshops and a public symposium at venues across Harburg. Following a successful first edition, our Dramaturgy Meet-up is also returning for its second session. This open networking format is aimed at dramaturgs and anyone interested in dramaturgical practice. The next meeting takes place on 6 July, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Quarterpipe in HafenCity. In addition, applications for the new Fringify Festival Director remain open until 15 July 2026. We are looking for an individual or team to provide the artistic direction for the festival's next three editions.

And finally, the most important reminder: our DfdK-Sommerfest takes place tonight from 5 p.m. at Migrantpolitan! If you have not signed up yet, you are still very welcome to join us—registration is appreciated but not required. Drinks are on us, while the potluck buffet depends on your contributions. We are looking forward to an enjoyable evening with familiar and new faces, inspiring conversations and a wonderful start to the summer. The Summer Party is open to everyone—whether you are a DfdK member or not, an artist or simply a friend of the independent performing arts.

We hope to see many of you tonight. And to everyone else, we wish you an inspiring summer! The DfdK office will be taking its summer break from 27 July onwards. During this time, our phone consultation hours and newsletter will be paused. We will be back as usual from 21 August 2026.

Warm regards,
Your DfdK