Survey on funding and structures 2024

Subsidies are being cut.Structures are being lost.

What is the state of the nationwide dance landscape? What realities and perspectives are dance artists currently confronted with and how are the structures and institutions for dance doing?

What cuts / changes / possibly increases are known? What do the structural cuts and structural changes in dance look like? Let us collect the facts!

In the first part of the survey, we ask about the development of your funding. How are the funding and financing of your projects changing? Where and how much is being cut or increased? We have prepared an Excel file with two spreadsheets for this purpose. These are for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Please answer until November, 30th and share this survey in your networks!

Click here for the survey for artists and self-employed dance professionals

Click here for the survey for institutions


Projects

Through initiatives and projects, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland advances the nationwide issues of dance and its impact in many areas of society. Here we present our ongoing projects and funding programs.

 


Thoughts on the cuts in funding of the Federal Art and Culture Fund

The Ethics Commission of the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland warns of the federal government's planned funding cuts for the independent dance scene and the resulting discrimination and power imbalances.

Many artists and cultural workers in the dance sector are already living in precarious situations. In addition to their artistic work, they often have to take on second jobs and worry about the next project commitment in order to secure their finances. The current funding guidelines are already associated with high requirements. They demand constant innovation and new ideas, so that projects cannot be repeated and can only be developed further in exceptional cases. All these structures, combined with a high level of bureaucracy, make sustainable work almost impossible at present.

The planned funding cuts and the cancellation of the budget for the Bündnis Internationale Produktionshäuser endangers the fair practice of the dance profession and threatens the continued existence of the independent scene. A lack of financial, material and human resources not only has a direct impact on artistic quality, but also on interpersonal relationships. Fair fees, fair working hours and well-equipped teams are essential for ethical co-operation. The federal government's efforts override ethical principles (such as anti-discrimination, sensitivity to structural power imbalances and sexualised violence), which the Ethics Commission advocates. We are moving backwards with such measures.

Through this political decision, the representatives of the federal government are distancing themselves from the realities and needs of a large part of the population and excluding less privileged people from art and culture by weakening the independent cultural scene. The planned measures will structurally reinforce hierarchies and the creation and consumption of art and culture will (once again) become a privilege to which only a few have access. The independent scene is the art space that is closest to the reality of many people's lives. It picks up on political phenomena and reflects on them, creates space for debate and sometimes even triggers social movements.

The population has a right to such an offer, because only a strong independent scene represents the true diversity of our society and a strong democracy.

In order to permanently protect the independent arts, in particular dance as an art form and its performers, from discrimination and to strengthen its existence, the Ethics Commission of the DTD demands an immediate revision and correction of the cutback decisions.

DTD Ethics Committee, 13th of August 2024

Read also the related topic:
Stellungnahme der INITIATIVE TANZ zum Haushaltsentwurf 2025 der Bundesregierung

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Work Areas

The Federal Association for Dance in Germany acts in the long term as a network partner for dance professionals, cultural practitioners, civil society actors, and policymakers. The fields of work include all issues related to the development of dance art and its visibility - from dance education, production and presentation of dance, dance research and dance science to documentation, public relations and presence of dance in the media. Furthermore, the DTD strives for a comprehensive participation of all citizens in the diversity of the art of dance.

 


ACTION DAY at the Brandenburg Gate

On 13 September 2024, the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, together with Bureau Ritter and JOINT ADVENTURES / NATIONALES PERFORMANCE NETZ, initiated the ‘Dance creates cohesion’ day of action in Berlin in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
We showed the power and creativity of dance to connect people. With performances and lecture demonstrations, hands-on activities, interviews and jam sessions, we entered into a great exchange of experiences.
The day culminated in a large demonstration with dance and for dance. Statements from artists and politicians mingled with music and dance. The diversity and potential of dance was made visible in the public space and brought into the political dialogue. We talked and danced together! Impressions of the day of action can be found here.

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WIR SIND AUCH DIE VIELEN!

Wir als Dachverband Tanz Deutschland unterstützen die Kampagne SHIELD & SHINE - denn wir sind auch DIE VIELEN, die gegen Rassismus, Ausgrenzung und Rechtsextremismus aufstehen. Wir rufen alle unsere Mitglieder, Kolleg*innen und unsere Freund*innen in Kultur und Politik auf, sich der Kampagne anzuschließen und lokal Proteste, Diskussionen und Sichtbarkeit zu organisieren.

HOW TO & AKTIONSWOCHEN: Als Handreichung und Unterstützung für regionale und lokale VIELEN Gruppen gibt es ein HOW TO SHIELD & SHINE Pdf mit Anregungen, Tipps und mehr für Aktionen. Weiteres Material, Logos, Dateien und Informationen als Download

Die Aktionen sollen bzw. können sich vor allem auf die folgenden Zeiträumen konzentrieren:

  • 03.06.-09.06.2024 Aktionswoche EUROPA DEN VIELEN
  • 26.08.-01.09.2024 Bundesweite Aktionswoche gegen die Normalisierung von rechtsextremer Politik

Wir planen derzeit auch entsprechende Aktionen und werden Sie über unseren Newsletter und unsere Social Media-Kanäle auf dem Laufenden halten!


German Dance Association

Get to know us!

Dachverband Tanz Deutschland acts as a long-term network partner for dance professionals, cultural practitioners, civil society actors, and politicians at the state, federal, and EU levels. In this context, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland carries out networking, advisory and mediation work for professional dance practitioners, associations and art and educational institutions. On the individual project pages you will find detailed information about the projects and individual events and workshops.