Independent Scene Coalition Open Letter to the City of Berlin In terms of support for independent artistic structures, the evolution of the Berlin cultural budget over the past 10 years is extremely worrisome. In comparison with the situation ten years ago when 10 % of the total cultural budget was available for free allocation now only meager 2.5%, about € 10 million, is available. The federal government adds € 10 million through the Capital Cultural Fund (Hauptstadtkulturfonds), but only 60% of these funds are actually awarded to independently produced projects. In their current coalition agreement the governing parties SPD and CDU maintain: "Berlin is a global metropolis of culture, our cultural wealth is our capital. (...) Art, culture and the creative community are among the main fundamental resources of the city. (...) The coalition seeks to increase support for the Independent Scene (...). " There has been little action to support these exhortations thus far. Although a budget increase of € 500,000 for independent arts projects gives cause for hope, this increase does not even remotely correspond to the importance and the needs of the Berlinʼs Independent Scene. More consistent action is required in this respect. When the Renaissance Theatre was moved into the institutional funding budget the “conceptual fund” budget was cut by € 2,1 million. The Independent Scene Coalition calls for a substantial increase of available funds in the cultural budget. It is no longer acceptable that funding for institutions is continually increased and the funds obtainable for independent structures decreased. In this context, slogans like "Culture moves Berlin" (from the 2011 Berlin Senate cultural funding report) appear decidedly cynical. A coalition encompassing all artistic disciplines has been formed for the first time in Berlin in order to bring attention to this flagrant developmental failure. The substance of that much-vaunted and internationally acclaimed “Creative Berlin” is jeopardized. The arts in all their diversity and interactivity have made Berlin attractive for both business and tourism. The Independent Scene Coalition must defend itself against this emerging paradigmatic shift from a policy of support to an investment policy, placing constraints on independent artistic structures which forces them to focus primarily on financial return, thus damaging their autonomy and marginalizing their societal function. Berlin is at a crossroads. Culture will play a key role in the cityʼs future. Therefore we need a change in cultural policy.
Independent Scene Coalition Open letter to the city of Berlin The Independent Scene Coalition has collated ideas and suggestions for a new cultural policy that different networks, initiatives, groups and individuals have developed. 10 points for a new cultural policy: The current practice of cultural support must be subject to examination and, in many aspects, be rethought. The grant system must become more flexible in order to adapt to the needs of changing artistic practice. The grant structure presently reinforces a dubious status quo instead of supporting the constant state of flux for which Berlin has become world famous. 1. The Independent Scene Coalition calls for an increase in cultural spending within the overall Berlin budget and in particular a substantial increase of the funding specified for independent projects. The introduction of a “Citytax” is welcomed. At least 50% of the fiscal revenue from the “Citytax” should be used to support the Independent Scene. 2. Cultural Funding that responds to current artistic practice. Acquired production structures require new funding instruments: 1) Capital Fund. This is urgently needed to enable non-subsidized companies and artists to apply for substantial funding from the Capital Cultural Fund (Hauptstadtkulturfonds), the Federal Cultural Foundation (Kulturstiftung des Bundes), private foundations or the European Union. 2) Funding budget for reviving works or additional presentations of successful projects and productions which has to have a flexible structure that enables a timely response and flow of funds, unlike the current procedure which is embedded in the individual project funding structure. 3) Interdisciplinary arts funds for research and development and resources for artist residencies. 4) Removal of the ban on support for festivals. 5) Establishment of a fund for cultural diversity in accordance with the demand made by the Council for the Arts. (Rat für die Künste). 3. Establishment and support for production houses for the Independent Scene with their own individual budgets. Interdisciplinary venues function as anchors within the independent structures by, for example, initiating and producing national and international co-productions. The Independent Scene can no longer do without this kind of infrastructural support, which facilitates continuity in the developmental process and long-term planning.
4. Hauptstadtkulturfonds (Capital Cultural Fund) - Free resources for free structures! Resources from the Capital Cultural Fund must not be allowed to flow to already-subsidized institutions. This fund must be used exclusively for independent projects. Applications made by cultural institutions, which already receive institutional support should only be considered if the proposed project would be realized primarily by independent artists. Jury decisions must be binding. 5. Introduction of a minimum artist fee for publicly funded independent artists. Consequentially the total budget must be increased in order to avoid a reduction in the total number of funded projects. The demands by LAFT and TanzRaumBerlin/Tanzbüro Berlin/ztb e.V. for a minimum artistʼs fee in the performing arts should be considered as an example to be followed all areas of the arts. 6. The grant system for music and visual arts must be modified to match the structure and financial resources available in the performing arts; this includes an artist fee for exhibitions. 7. The government real estate policy must be rethought in terms of benefits for culture and the city itself. The Independent Scene Coalition calls for a moratorium on the sale of state property. Property should be dealt with under a system of hereditary building rights rather than be sold. Urban development policy is cultural policy. 8. The arts and cultural funding in the boroughs is in urgent need of maintenance and expansion. Decentralization is one of Berlinʼs strengths, a natural consequence of the cityʼs history. Borough-specific cultural spending for projects and institutions is a basic necessity to ensure cultural diversity. It creates a broad range of cultural offerings, which reach the entire population of Berlin in all of its social diversity. Strong support is demanded for project funding in each of Berlinʼs boroughs. 9. Solidarity Principle The Independent Scene Coalition welcomes co-operations and partnerships between established institutions and the Independent Scene. Politicians and public funding agencies should support and encourage collaboration between these two groups. 10. Transparency and fairness Approved goals of publicly funded institutions should be evaluated regularly. The appointment process for juries and jury members, in which the Independent Scene has the right to participate, must be carried out in a timely and transparent manner. "What the city should give to the arts is a fraction of what the arts continually give to the city." (Initiative “Haben und Brauchen”).
Initiators, Participants and initial Signers Gabi Beier (ada Studio und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.ada-studio.de Julian Klein (a rose is) www.aroseis.de Nina Tinaburri, Ulrich Ernitz (Atelier für Physisches Theater) www.apt-absurdacomica.de Isolde Nagel (A trans Pavilion) www.atrans.org Thomas Sutter, Miriam Glöckler (Atze Musiktheater) www.atzeberlin.de Tina Pfurr, Daniel Schrader (Ballhaus Ost) www.ballhausost.de Herbert Mondry (bbk. berlin e. V.) www.bbk-berlin.de Katharina Tarján, Karin Lindner (Berliner Kammeroper) www.berlinerkammeroper.de Stefanie Seidl (berlin-weekly Projektraum) www.berlin-weekly.com Ilona Kindt (Boulanger Trio) www.boulangertrio.de Frank Beyer, Henrik Beyer (con voce e tiorba) www.convocetiorba.de Gabi dan Droste Matthew Griffin (Deadline Architects) www.deadline.de Ulrich Diezmann (Bildender Künstler) Moritz Puschke (Deutscher Chorverband) www.deutscher-chorverband.de/ Kirsten Seeligmüller, Wibke Janssen (Dock 11 GmbH Eden) www.dock11-berlin.de Petra Niermeier (EnergieReSonanzTheater) www.energieresonanz.de Manuel Trökes (Ethnochip) www.ethnochip.de Adrienne Boros (Freie Volksbühne Berlin) www.lustaufkultur.de
Malte Zacharias (Gartenstudio) www.gartenstudio.org Ursula Maria Berzborn (Grotest Maru) www.grotest-maru.de Barbara Gstaltmayr (PR und Produktionsleitung) Ellen Blumenstein (Haben und Brauchen) www.habenundbrauchen.de Toula Limnaios, Ralf R. Ollertz (Halle Tanzbühne Berlin, cie. toula limnaios und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.halle-tanz-berlin.de Matthias Lilienthal (Hebbel am Ufer) www.hebbel-am-ufer.de/ Inka Löwendorf, Julia von Schacky, Nicole Oder, Stefanie Aehnelt (Heimathafen Neukölln) www.heimathafen-neukoelln.de Frauke Helwes www.fraukehelwes.de Nele Hertling Eva-Maria Hörster (Hochschulübergreifendes Zentrum Tanz und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.hzt-berlin.de Ulrich Kempendorff, Melanie Rossmann, Ignaz Schick, Marc Schmolling (IG Jazz Berlin) www.ig-jazz-berlin.de Klaus Schöpp, Björn Gottstein (Initiative neue Musik e. V.) www.inm-berlin.de Birgit Grimm (Junge Oper Berlin) www.junge-oper-berlin.de Kerstin Wiehe (K&K Kulturmanagement & Kommunikation und Kulturkontakte e.V.) Klaus Erfurth (Kalibani e. V.) www.kalibani.jimdo.com Katja Kettner Julian Klein (!KF Institut für künstlerische Forschung) www.artistic-research.de Thomas Bruns (KNM Berlin) www.kammerensemble.de Allison Schlesinger (Kofradia Theater)
www.kofradiatheater.webs.com Denhart v. Harling (KW Institute for Contemporary Art) www.kw-berlin.de Renate Graziadei, Arthur Stäldi (LaborGras GbR & Studio LaborGras und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.laborgras.com Janina Benduski, Fanni Halmburger, Wenke Hardt, Sandra Klöss, Elisa Müller, Björn Pätz, Max Schumacher, Anne Passow (Landesverband Freie Theaterschaffende Berlin e.V.) www.laft-berlin.de Dörte Reisener, Linus Bickmann (Lautten Compagney Berlin) www.lauttencompagney.de Andreas Richter (Mahler Chamber Orchestra) www.mahler-chamber.de Moritz Majce www.moritzmajce.info Christophe Knoch (Micamoca project berlin e.V.) www.micamoca.com Andreas Altenhof, Laura Hörold (Neuköllner Oper) www.neukoellneroper.de Wibke Behrens (NGBK Berlin) www.ngbk.de Max Schumacher (Posttheater) www.posttheater.com Jochen Sandig, Folkert Uhde, Bettina Sluzalek, Janina Paul (Radialsystem V und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.radialsystem.de Christian Römer Sasha Waltz, Anja Schmalfuß (Sasha Waltz & Guests und Partner im NetzwerkTanzRaumBerlin) www.sashawaltz.de Rolf Kuhl (Scheinbar Varieté) www.scheinbar.de Michael Leykauf (shantihtown construction) www.shantihtownconstruction.de Michael Rauter, Volker Hormann (Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop) www.kaleidoskopmusik.de Franziska Werner (Sophiensaele Berlin und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.sophiensaele.com
Florian Schmidt (Stadt Neudenken) http://stadt-neudenken.tumblr.com Simone Willeit, Jana Lüthje (Tanzbüro Berlin) www.tanzraumberlin.de Ludger Orlok (Tanzfabrik Berlin und Partner im NetzwerkTanzRaumBerlin) www.tanzfabrik-berlin.de Peter Pleyer (Tanztage Berlin und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.tanztage.de Ulrike Becker, André Thériault (TanzWerkstatt Berlin/Tanz im August und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.tanzwerkstatt-berlin.de und www.tanzimaugust.de Livia Patrizi, Jo Parkes (TanzZeit - Zeit für Tanz in Schulen und Partner im NetzwerkTanzRaumBerlin) www.tanzzeit-schule.de Georg Scharegg, Michael Müller (Theaterdiscounter) www.theaterdiscounter.de Barbara Kilian, Siegfried Heinzmann (Theater Hans Wurst Nachfahren) www.hans-wurst-nachfahren.de Christoff Bleidt (Theaterhaus Berlin Mitte) www.thbm.foerderband.org Benno Plassmann (The Working Party, c/o Theaterhaus Berlin) www.theworkingparty.org Conny Breitkreutz, Barbara Friedrich (Uferstudios und Partner im NetzwerkTanzRaumBerlin) www.uferstudios.com Riki von Falken Leonie Baumann (Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin) www.kh-berlin.de Renate Graziadei, Norbert Kliesch, David Brandstätter (Zeitgenössischer Tanz Berlin e.V. und Partner im Netzwerk TanzRaumBerlin) www.ztberlin.de Christian Schöningh (Die Zusammenarbeiter) www.zusammenarbeiter.de Redaktionsteam: Christophe Knoch (V.i.S.d.P.), Janina Paul, Jochen Sandig, Folkert Uhde, Franziska Werner
