Cours et Jardins gUG

What Cours et Jardins gUG does

Cours et Jardins gUG (haftungsbeschränkt) is a Berlin-based non-profit cultural education organization founded in 2014, recognized as an entity of public interest. The company places theater at the center of language learning and social connection, delivering programs for approximately 3,200 children and 500 adults annually across Berlin and Freiburg im Breisgau. Its portfolio spans after-school care at Ecole Voltaire (Les Jardins de Voltaire), French and German theater workshops (En Scène!, Auf die Bühne, La LIBER improvisation league), summer arts programs, and professional teacher-training courses built around the proprietary Thealingua method.

Thealingua is the company's core technology asset: a trademarked, theater-based foreign language teaching methodology developed since 2010 and codified into a kit containing a methodology manual, skill cards, and structured activities combining body awareness, collective creation, emotional expression, and multilingual improvisation. The method is delivered by a network of 30+ trained practitioners ('Thealinguistes') across seven European countries and is positioned for further dissemination through multi-year Erasmus+ and OFAJ-funded projects, including the IACLIP initiative spanning six countries.

The business model blends consumer program fees (workshop enrollment, after-school subscriptions and ticket bundles priced in the tens to low hundreds of EUR), professional training revenue (5-day certification at 920–1,420 EUR, 3-day kit introduction at 720 EUR), and non-dilutive European public funding (Erasmus+ KA2, OFAJ subsidies). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website and on-site delivery at partner schools and cultural venues. The organization is founder-led by Managing Director Damien Poinsard, with no disclosed external investors, and operates as a tax-deductible non-profit under German gUG law.

Name

Cours et Jardins gUG

Legal name

Cours et Jardins gUG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Website

https://coursetjardins.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berlin-based non-profit (gUG) that delivers theater-based language-learning programs, including the proprietary Thealingua method, to roughly 3,200 children and 500 adults annually across Germany while running pan-European Erasmus+ and OFAJ-funded projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Immersion Programs & Camps (Local/Seasonal) (EDAMAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Teen Language Camps (Summer/Winter) (EDAIAEAF), Language Immersion & ESL Camps (EDAMALAG)

Keywords

• Theater-based language learning
• Extracurricular performing arts
• After-school childcare services
• Professional drama training
• European cultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Thealingua Professional Training: Professional training courses for teachers, educators, theater pedagogues, and language instructors. Two formats: 5-day certification course (35 hours in-person + online project coaching) and 3-day kit introduction workshop (21 hours + 2 online sessions). Revenue from course fees in France and Germany.
2. Theater Workshops for Children and Adults: Weekly and periodic theater workshops in French and German. Includes En Scène annual workshops, La LIBER improvisation league, and seasonal programs. Revenue from participant fees.
3. After-school and Leisure Center Activities: Periscolaire (after-school) care at Ecole Voltaire and holiday leisure centers (centres de loisirs) for children. Revenue from registration fees, ticket bundles, and subscription formulas (Liberté, Jours Fixes, Ticket).
4. European Project Funding: Co-funded through Erasmus+ and OFAJ (Franco-German Youth Office) partnerships for cross-border educational and cultural exchange projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cours et Jardins gUG is a non-profit cultural education organization that delivers theater-based educational programs for children and adults in Berlin and Freiburg im Breisgau. Its core offerings include the proprietary Thealingua method for foreign language learning through theater, weekly French and German theater workshops (En Scène!, Auf die Bühne!, La LIBER improvisation league), after-school and leisure center activities (Les Jardins de Voltaire), summer Arts en Scène programs, and professional training for teachers and educators. Programs are delivered on-site at partner schools, theater venues, and via European cooperation projects funded by Erasmus+ and OFAJ.

Product overview

Cours et Jardins gUG is a non-profit educational organization based in Berlin since 2014, placing theater at the heart of learning and social connection. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including Thealingua (a certified method for language learning through theater), En Scène! weekly French theater workshops, La LIBER Franco-German improvisation league, Les Jardins de Voltaire after-school activities, Arts en Scène summer program, Auf die Bühne German theater workshops, professional training courses, and thematic workshops. The offerings primarily serve children (3,200 annually) and adults (500 annually) in Berlin and Freiburg im Breisgau, with European projects in partnership with Erasmus+ and OFAJ.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• En Scène!: Annual French-language theatre workshops for adults and adolescents in Berlin and Freiburg im Breisgau, culminating in public performances.
• Thealingua
• La LIBER
• Les Jardins de Voltaire
• ARTIVISTS
• Grandir
• Thealingua Europa

Products and services

• Thealingua Method
• En Scène! French-Language Theater Workshops
• La LIBER Franco-German Improvisation League
• Les Jardins de Voltaire After-School and Leisure Center
• Arts en Scène Summer Program
• Auf die Bühne! German-Language Theater Workshop
• Thealingua Professional Training Courses
• Thematic One-Off Workshops (Journées thématiques)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ language projects conducted annually across Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EAFC (Ecole Académique de Formation Continue) LyonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Lead organization for IACLIP Erasmus+ KA2 project 'Engineering as a Lever for Pedagogical Innovation' spanning 36 months across 6 countries and 9 organizations. Cours et Jardins contributes Thealingua methodology as a case study for innovative language teaching.
• Centre CREALcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023French partner organization co-leading Thealingua Europa European project and Thealingua method development. Centre CREAL is based in France and works with Cours et Jardins on international cooperation, teacher training, and European projects.
• OFAJ (Office Franco-Allemand pour la Jeunesse)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Franco-German Youth Office provides funding and support for cross-border youth exchanges, Tandem language stays, and training subsidies. OFAJ co-supports ARTIVISTS and Grandir projects as well as Thealingua training in Germany.
• Fix In Art (Thessalonique, Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek partner for ARTIVISTS CAP2TRANSITION project focused on artistic activism and social engagement for youth aged 18-30. Project completed 2023-2024 with aims to expand to ARTIVISTS#2 (2025-2027).
• Ecole VoltairecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-German primary school in Berlin hosting Cours et Jardins after-school activities and leisure centers. Primary location for périscolaire programs at Les Jardins de Voltaire.
• Centre français de BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench cultural center in Berlin supporting Franco-German cultural and educational activities.
• Institut français BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Institute in Berlin providing cultural and educational collaboration for French language and cultural programs.
• Französisches Gymnasium BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-German secondary school in Berlin implementing Thealingua workshops and language programs.
• La Ménagerie e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based theater company contributing to theatrical activities and cultural programming.
• Landesvereinigung Kulturelle Jugendbildung e.V. (LKJ Berlin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association for cultural youth education in Berlin supporting youth cultural projects.
• Sophie-Scholl-SchuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin school implementing Thealingua workshops for language education.
• Grundschule am ArkonaplatzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin primary school participating in Thealingua workshop programs.
• JugendKulturZentrum PUMPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin youth cultural center hosting En Scène Junior workshops and summer Arts en Scène program.
• CREFAD Loire (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner in France for Thealingua certification courses. Co-organizes 5-day professional training sessions in France.
• Erasmus+ KA2 Partners (6 countries)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine organizations across Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and Romania participating in IACLIP project for pedagogical innovation research and resource development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institut Français Berlin: German arm of the French government's international cultural network; delivers French language instruction and cultural events in Berlin. Comparable as a Franco-German cultural education provider, listed by Cours et Jardins as a partner rather than a competitor.
• Centre CREAL: French non-profit co-developing Thealingua Europa and co-leading the joint methodology rollout with Cours et Jardins. Functionally a sister organization in France, training Thealinguists and running Thealingua workshops; the closest single comparator for assessing operational scaling of the methodology.
• Alliance Française Berlin: The Berlin chapter of the global Alliance Française network offering French language courses and cultural programming to Franco-German audiences. Directly comparable as a French language and culture education provider in the same city, targeting overlapping expatriate and Francophile communities; Cours et Jardins differentiates with its theater-pedagogy methodology rather than standard classroom instruction.

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut: Germany's globally distributed cultural and language education institution. Overlaps as a Berlin-based language teacher-training provider and professional development venue, but operates on a vastly larger scale and broader portfolio across all languages.
• British Council Germany: UK government's international cultural and English-teaching organization with Berlin presence. Directly analogous institutional model to Alliance Française and Institut Français, providing cross-border cultural education and teacher training.
• Volkshochschulen (Berlin/VHS): Municipal adult education centers offering subsidized language courses and creative arts workshops in Berlin. Comparable on the axis of community-based, subsidized language and arts education; serves a fundamentally different price point and demand profile.

Others

• Office Franco-Allemand pour la Jeunesse (OFAJ) direct programs: The Franco-German Youth Office directly funds and runs tandem language exchanges and youth workshops. Cours et Jardins is a recipient, partner, and indirect delivery channel for OFAJ programs, so its scale and direction are partially set by this bilateral institution.
• Compagnie Chausse-Trappe / Les Singuliers Associés: Franco-German theater companies where Cours et Jardins pedagogical staff (notably Anaïs Caillaud) have performed. Adjacent ecosystem actors representing the upstream talent pool for Cours et Jardins instructor hiring.

Regional players

• Theater an der Parkaue / Berlin state youth theater programs: Berlin's state-funded youth theater programming with associated pedagogical workshops. Comparable as theater-pedagogy delivery for children/youth in Berlin, though not focused on language acquisition; represents a possible competitive alternative for families choosing between drama programs.

Emerging players

• Le BalbuCam / KindertheaterKind language-immersion theater initiatives: Berlin-based multilingual children's theater initiatives offering theater-language hybrids at smaller scale. Closest analog to the Arts en Scène summer program and En Scène Junior workshops in form (young audiences, multilingual delivery) though not in formal methodology or school-integrated delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cours et Jardins gUG