Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a Berlin-based nonprofit arts funding organization, founded in 1985, that channels federal BKM funding to Germany's independent performing arts sector via grants, research, awards, and national events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. does
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a Berlin-based, federally funded nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein, founded 1985) that serves as Germany's primary federal funding body dedicated exclusively to the independent performing arts sector. The organization distributes grants from the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM) to freelance artists, artist groups, production venues, and festivals across all genres of independent theater, dance, performance, puppet theater, contemporary circus, and music theater. Its funding portfolio spans production funding, residency funding, process funding, reopening funding, multi-year concept funding, and structural/network funding — most notably through the NEUSTART KULTUR package of ~€136 million disbursed via #TakeThat (€76M, 2020-21) and #TakeHeart (€60M, 2021-22) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond grant administration via its online FondsPortal, the organization operates a national platform of supporting activities: the annual BUNDESTREFFEN national conference (2025: 'THE SHOW MUST GO ON', 2026: 'DON'T STOP ME NOW'), the Tabori Preis and Theaterpreis des Bundes awards, the Bundesweite Artist Labs / B.A.L.L. laboratory initiative (~30 labs in 2022), a 12-sub-study research program conducted with 10 universities, and a slate of documentary film productions (DENNOCH!, BLICKWECHSEL, DIE KUNST VIELE ZU BLEIBEN). The 13-person staff is governed by a Vorstand of Amelie Deuflhard, Sabine Gehm, and Anne-Cathrin Lessel, with Holger Bergmann as Managing Director.
The business model is a pass-through public-funding structure with no commercial revenue: the organization receives appropriations from the BKM and reallocates them as grants according to funding guidelines. It supplements this with policy advocacy, sector convening, research publications, and commissioned films that document and promote the independent arts. Its distribution footprint spans all of Germany through a network of partner venues (Sophiensæle, HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Kampnagel, HELLERAU, FFT Düsseldorf, LOFFT, Hans Otto Theater, and others), festivals (Impulse Theater Festival, Kunstfest Weimar, PHOENIX Theaterfestival), and the umbrella association Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste.
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
- Legal name
- Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
- Website
- https://fonds-daku.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a Berlin-based nonprofit arts funding organization, founded in 1985, that channels federal BKM funding to Germany's independent performing arts sector via grants, research, awards, and national events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Funding Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)
Keywords
Where Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Cultural Funding: The organization receives government funding from the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM) and distributes it as grants to independent performing artists, groups, production venues, and festivals across Germany. It does not generate commercial revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a German nonprofit association that administers federal cultural grants on behalf of the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM), distributing funding to independent performing artists, artist groups, production venues, and festivals across Germany. Its core offerings consist of funding programs (production funding, reopening funding, GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS, #TakeThat, #TakeHeart) administered through the FondsPortal online application system, alongside awards (Tabori Preis, Theaterpreis des Bundes), national events (BUNDESTREFFEN), and consulting services.
Product overview
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a German arts funding organization that functions as a platform rather than a traditional product company. Its core offerings consist of funding programs (Produktionsförderung, GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS, Wiederaufnahmeförderung, #TakeThat, #TakeHeart) administered through the FondsPortal online application system. Supporting services include the research program, awards (Tabori Preis, Theaterpreis des Bundes), events (BUNDESTREFFEN, Bundesweite Artist Labs), consulting services, a funding glossary, sustainability checklist, event calendar, and online magazine. The organization also produces documentary films documenting the independent performing arts sector and its research activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FondsPortal Online application and administration portal through which independent artists, groups, and organizations submit funding applications and manage their funded projects with the fund. Requires account registration for first-time users.
- Produktionsförderung (Production Funding) Funding program supporting artistic productions in the independent performing arts sector in Germany.
- GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS Funding program with two streams — 'Ländlich' (Rural) for outdoor artistic activities in rural areas, and 'Digital' for artistic activities in digital space — supporting children's and youth engagement with performing arts.
- Wiederaufnahmeförderung (Reopening Funding) Funding program for reopening or resuming productions that were previously funded but interrupted or postponed.
- #TakeThat-Programm Emergency funding program under NEUSTART KULTUR (2020/21) consisting of eleven differentiated funding lines ranging from genre-specific production funding to residency grants for research. Total budget: €76 million from BKM.
- #TakeHeart-Programm Recovery funding program under NEUSTART KULTUR (2021/22) with six program lines: Research, Residency, Process, Reopening, Network and Structure, and Multi-year Concept Funding with pandemic-increased grant amounts. Total budget: €60 million from BKM.
- Forschungsprogramm (Research Program) Multi-year research program examining the mechanisms and potentials of cultural policy instruments, conducted in collaboration with scientists from ten universities across the German-speaking region, including twelve thematic sub-studies.
- Tabori Preis (George Tabori Prize) Prize awarded for outstanding achievements in the independent performing arts sector, recognizing artistic innovation and contributions to the field.
- Theaterpreis des Bundes (Federal Theater Prize) National theater prize recognizing excellence in the performing arts, awarded in cooperation with federal cultural funding.
- BUNDESTREFFEN Annual national gathering of the independent performing arts community, serving as a platform for exchange, discourse, and networking. Themes have included 2025 'THE SHOW MUST GO ON' and 2026 'DON'T STOP ME NOW'.
- Bundesweite Artist Labs (B.A.L.L.) Nationwide laboratory program supporting artistic research and experimentation across diverse genres including puppet theater, music theater, dance, performance, and contemporary circus; the 2022 edition was known as B.A.L.L. (Bundesweites Artist Labor der Labore) and supported approximately 30 labs.
- Beratungsangebote (Consulting Services) Advisory services provided to artists and organizations in the independent performing arts sector, including FAQ resources, cultural policy consulting, and direct communication with fund managers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% of funded recipients rated the funding process as good to very good; 95.7% said their questions were resolved after consultation.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability2 records
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.
- Goethe-InstitutmajorCooperation partner in the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' (The Art of Staying Many) forums series, which traveled to 9 German cities in 2024. The Goethe-Institut supported the initiative as part of its international cultural promotion mission.
- Sophiensæle BerlinmajorHost venue for the film premiere of 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' on March 12, 2025, coinciding with the organization's 40th anniversary celebration. Also a partner venue in the forum series.
- HAU Hebbel am Ufer BerlinmajorPartner venue in the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' forum series and host of the tour launch event in May 2024. Also venue for the 'DENNOCH!' film premiere in January 2023.
- HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste DresdenmajorPartner venue in the forum series and screening location for 'DENNOCH!' film in 2023. A key venue for contemporary performing arts in Germany.
- Kampnagel HamburgmajorPartner venue in the forum series (2024) and host of the 'DENNOCH!' screening in February 2023. One of Germany's leading venues for contemporary theater and performance.
- Impulse Theater FestivalmajorPartner in the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' forum series and a key festival for independent performing arts in the German-speaking world.
- Kunstfest WeimarmajorPartner venue in the 2024 forum series, hosting events and performances as part of the multi-city 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' tour.
- fabrik PotsdamsupportingPartner venue in the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' forum series, hosting performances and discussions in Potsdam.
- FFT DüsseldorfsupportingPartner venue in the forum series and host of 'DENNOCH!' screening in February 2023. A key independent theater venue in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Hans Otto Theater PotsdamsupportingPartner in the forum series, hosting events in Potsdam as part of the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' program.
- LOFFT – DAS THEATER LeipzigsupportingPartner venue in the forum series and host of 'DENNOCH!' screening in March 2023. The main independent theater venue in Leipzig.
- OSTEN Festival Bitterfeld-WolfensupportingPartner in the forum series, hosting events in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. An emerging theater festival in Eastern Germany.
- PHOENIX Theaterfestival Erfurt / Plattenstufen-FestspielesupportingPartner festival in the forum series, hosting events in Erfurt. Focuses on open-air performances engaging diverse audiences.
- Residenz Schauspiel LeipzigsupportingPartner venue in the forum series, contributing to the program in Leipzig.
- Societaetstheater DresdensupportingPartner venue in Dresden for the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' forums.
- Zentralwerk e.V. DresdensupportingPartner venue in Dresden for the forum series, representing the independent cultural scene in Dresden.
- Chamäleon BerlinsupportingPartner venue in the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' forums, hosting performances and events in Berlin.
- Zirkustheater Festival DresdensupportingPartner in the Dresden program of the forum series, contributing circus theater programming.
- KULTUREXPERTEN Dr. Scheytt GmbHsupportingIndependent evaluation firm commissioned to evaluate the organization's NEUSTART KULTUR funding activities. Conducted internal process analysis and surveyed approximately 3,025 funded recipients.
- Artist Labs / Bundesweites Artist Labor der Labore (B.A.L.L.)majorA collaborative initiative of around 30 artist laboratories across Germany, funded and initiated by the organization in 2022. The labs covered diverse genres including puppet theater, music theater, dance, performance, and contemporary circus.
- EDUCULT WiensupportingResearch partner commissioned to conduct a sub-study on the work and funding of independent performing arts during COVID-19, as part of the organization's research program. EDUCULT is a research and project institute specializing in culture, education, and politics.
- Bundesverband Freie Darstellende KünstecoreThe national association of independent performing arts in Germany, representing the interests of state associations and individual members. Partner in the research program study on COVID-19's impact on the independent arts sector.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Goethe-Institut: Germany's global cultural and language institute, a major strategic partner of Fonds Darstellende Künste in the 'DIE KUNST, VIELE ZU BLEIBEN' forum series. Operates at larger scale with international reach but shares the federal cultural promotion mandate.
- Allianz Kulturstiftung: European cultural foundation supporting arts, education, and heritage across multiple countries. Comparable grantmaking role but with a broader geographic and thematic scope, providing an alternative funding channel for performing arts projects.
Regional players
- Stiftung Niedersachsen: State-level cultural foundation in Lower Saxony supporting performing arts, music, and visual arts projects. Comparable grantmaking model at regional scale, but limited to a single German state.
- Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gemeinwesenarbeit Berlin: Berlin's state cultural administration funding independent performing arts across the city. Operates as a regional public funder with overlapping grantee base, providing complementary (and sometimes competing) funding to the federal layer.
- NRW KULTURsekretariat: State-level public funding body for arts and culture in North Rhine-Westphalia. Operates a comparable grantmaking model at regional scale, providing complementary funding to the federal layer where Fonds Darstellende Künste operates.
Direct peers
- Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste: National association representing independent performing arts in Germany and a core partner of Fonds Darstellende Künste. Operates as the policy/advocacy counterpart, with strong organizational overlap in member associations and shared research initiatives.
- Kulturelle Landespromotion / Fonds Soziokultur: Federal German foundation funding participatory cultural projects and soziokulturelle projects. Uses a comparable grantmaking model with federal funding and nationwide reach, but with a focus on cultural participation rather than independent performing arts specifically.
- Kulturstiftung des Bundes: Germany's federal cultural foundation with a nationwide mandate to fund innovative arts and cultural projects. Shares the same BKM funding lineage and grantmaking mission as Fonds Darstellende Künste, though covering a broader cultural portfolio.
- Stiftung Kunstfonds: German federal foundation providing direct grants to fine artists and artist groups. Directly comparable grantmaking model and BKM funding relationship, but focused on visual arts rather than performing arts.
Others
- Deutscher Bühnenverein: National trade association for German public theaters and performing arts institutions. Functions as an industry counterpart — representing municipal/state theaters and orchestras — and collaborates with the federal independent arts ecosystem on sector-wide policy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. social profiles
Digital presenceFonds Darstellende Künste e.V. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.
What does Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. do?
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a German nonprofit association that administers federal cultural grants on behalf of the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM), distributing funding to independent performing artists, artist groups, production venues, and festivals across Germany. Its core offerings consist of funding programs (production funding, reopening funding, GLOBAL VILLAGE KIDS, #TakeThat, #TakeHeart) administered through the FondsPortal online application system, alongside awards (Tabori Preis, Theaterpreis des Bundes), national events (BUNDESTREFFEN), and consulting services.
Is Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. a public or private company?
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. founded?
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. based?
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Cultural Funding.
Who are Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Goethe-Institut and Allianz Kulturstiftung. Regional players are Stiftung Niedersachsen, Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gemeinwesenarbeit Berlin and NRW KULTURsekretariat. Direct peers are Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste, Kulturelle Landespromotion / Fonds Soziokultur, Kulturstiftung des Bundes and Stiftung Kunstfonds. Deutscher Bühnenverein is listed as an others.
Does Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V..
What industry is Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. in?
Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V.'s product category is Arts Funding Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAJ, Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAH, Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.