ART for ART

What ART for ART does

ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH is a Vienna-based, state-owned theatrical production services company, wholly owned by Bundestheater-Holding GmbH under the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sport. Founded in 1999, the company operates as the integrated internal service provider for Austria's five federal theaters — Burgtheater, Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Staatsballett, Volksoper Wien, and the Bundestheater-Holding itself — delivering set construction, costume design, building technology, and event infrastructure from a single source.

The company's core operations are housed at the Arsenal facility in Vienna, where large-scale decoration workshops (painting halls, carpentry, metalwork, sculpture, and upholstery) — described as among the largest and most significant in Europe — produce stage scenery, painted backdrops, and costumes for federal theater productions. Additional service lines include stage technology, building and safety systems, information and communication technology, ticket distribution, transportation, mobile advertising rental, and digital technologies. Specialized talent is cultivated through the Akademie für Theaterhandwerk (NEXT STAGE) apprenticeship program.

The business model combines captive internal services to the Bundestheater group (the dominant revenue base) with incremental external revenue from costume and scenery rentals, event venue hire of the painting halls (Malersäle), and the recently opened KunstPause bistro at Arsenal. Marketing is primarily organic — website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn — with public event participation (e.g., Regenbogenparade). The company is private, receives no venture or private equity investment, and reports no publicly disclosed revenue.

Name

ART for ART

Legal name

ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH

Website

https://www.theaterservice.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH is a Vienna-based, state-owned subsidiary of Bundestheater-Holding that provides set construction, costume design, building technology, and event venue services to Austria's federal theaters and select external customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatrical Production Services

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Theatrical production services
• Costume manufacturing
• Set design construction
• Stage technology services
• Theater venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Production Services: Core services providing stage sets, costumes, building technology, and technical services to Austrian Federal Theatres
2. Rental Services: Rental of costumes, storage spaces, advertising surfaces, and transportation services to external customers
3. Event Venue Rental: Painting halls (Malersäle) available as event locations for evenings and weekends

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH is an integrated theater service provider that manufactures stage sets and costumes, and delivers building technology, stage technology, and event venue services. It operates large-scale decoration workshops (carpentry, metalwork, sculpture, upholstery, painting halls) considered among Europe's largest, serving primarily Austria's federal theaters while also offering rentals and event venue use to external customers.

Product overview

ART for ART Theaterservice GmbH is a comprehensive theater service provider offering a diverse portfolio of services organized into distinct categories. The core offerings include Handwerk (craft services) with Costume (Kostüm) and Stage Set (Bühnenbild) workshops; Verleih und Miete (rental and lease) covering scenery storage, costume rental, mobile advertising, and transportation; and Gebäudetechnik (building technology) encompassing construction, stage technology, building and safety technology, information and communication technology, and event equipment. Additional services include ticket distribution, digital technologies, an academy for theater crafts (Akademie für Theaterhandwerk - NEXT STAGE), and event venue rental of their paint halls. The company recently expanded with the KunstPause bistro at Arsenal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Akademie für Theaterhandwerk - NEXT STAGE: Training initiative for apprentices of the Austrian Federal Theatres, offering theater-specific and professional continuing education.

Products and services

• Costume Workshop Services (Handwerk - Kostüm) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Stage Set Design & Construction (Handwerk - Bühnenbild) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Stage Set & Scenery Storage (Kulissenlager) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Costume Rental (Kostümverleih) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Mobile Advertising Rental (Mobile Werbung) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Theater Transportation Services (Transporte) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Building Construction Services (Gebäudetechnik - Hochbau) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Stage Technology Services (Bühnentechnik) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Building & Safety Technology Services Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Information & Communication Technology Services Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Event Equipment (Eventausstattung) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Ticket Distribution & Information (Kartenvertrieb & Information) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Digital Theater Technologies (Digitale Technologien) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Academy for Theater Crafts - NEXT STAGE (Akademie für Theaterhandwerk) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Event Venue Malersäle (Paint Halls) Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.
• Bistro KunstPause Factual description of what the product or service does and who it is for.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundestheater-Holding GmbHcoreOthersART for ART is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Austrian Federal Theatres Holding (Bundestheater-Holding GmbH), which also operates Burgtheater, Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Staatsballett, and Volksoper Wien. This parent company structure ensures integrated theatrical production services across Austria's premier performance venues.
• BurgtheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria's premier drama theater serving as a primary customer for theatrical production services including sets, costumes, and technical support.
• Wiener StaatsopercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria's national opera house receiving stage sets, costumes, and comprehensive theatrical production services.
• Wiener StaatsballettcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria's national ballet company receiving specialized costume design and stage production services.
• Volksoper WiencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna's popular opera house receiving theatrical production and technical support services.
• Akademie für Theaterhandwerk (NEXT STAGE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academy for Theatre Crafts (NEXT STAGE) is the training initiative of Austrian Federal Theatres offering specialized professional development for apprentices. ART for ART participates by providing practical training opportunities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Production Resource Group (PRG): Global provider of entertainment production services including stage technology, lighting, rigging, and scenic support. Highly comparable as a B2B theatrical production services company, though broader in scale and portfolio than ART for ART's theatrical-craft focus.
• Stage Entertainment: European theatrical production company operating musical theater venues across Germany and the Netherlands. Comparable as a major European theater production operator, though focused on producing shows rather than providing craft services.
• Really Useful Group: Theatrical production company associated with Andrew Lloyd Webber producing musicals globally. Comparable as a large-scale theater production entity, though more focused on IP and licensing than scenic craft services.

Direct peers

• Royal Opera House (Production Department): In-house scenic and costume workshops at London's Royal Opera House produce sets and costumes for opera and ballet. Directly comparable as a national-theater-affiliated scenic/costume production unit, though structured as part of the venue rather than a separate GmbH.
• Metropolitan Opera (Production Department): The Met's in-house scene shop and costume department produce large-scale opera productions. Comparable as a high-volume scenic and costume manufacturer serving a national opera and ballet program.
• Bay Productions: UK-based scenic construction and theatrical production services company serving major West End and international productions. Comparable as an external scenic/set building service provider with similar craftsmanship offerings.
• Theater Scenery Workshop: US scenic construction company building sets for Broadway, opera, and dance productions. Directly comparable as a theatrical scenic construction services business.
• Scenic Route: Scenic construction and theatrical fabrication studio serving Broadway and regional theaters. Comparable as a dedicated scenic shop providing set construction, painting, and finishing for theater productions.

Emerging players

• Rose Brand: Supplier of theatrical fabrics, scenic materials, and custom soft goods for theater and event productions. Comparable in adjacent craft services (soft goods, drapery, scenic textiles) but more materials-focused than integrated scenic build.

Regional players

• Deutsche Oper Berlin (Technical Department): In-house scenic and technical workshops at one of Berlin's major opera houses. Comparable as a German-speaking opera-house-affiliated scenic/costume production unit, though based in Germany rather than Austria and integrated into the venue itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/art-for-art-theaterservice-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/artforarttheaterservice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ART for ART