FAQs for the 2018 newcomer’s platform Introducing…

Who Can Apply?

Artists and groups who work professionally and are primarily based in Berlin or have long-term plans to be primarily based in Berlin are welcome to apply. Direct contacts to Berlin’s independent performing arts community should already exist. Artists and groups should have completed their studies within the last 3 years. 

How can I apply?  

In general, you are welcome to submit applications including the most diverse formats within the field of performing arts (spoken word theater, performance, music theater, dance, puppet and object theater, children’s and youth theater, et cetera) as well as with interdisciplinary work that has a basis within the performing arts. Please do bear in mind that the technical options within the performance venues provided are limited, as is the time available for load-in and tech. This means that productions or performances that are too technically elaborate and have a long setup time could fail to be closely considered for the Newcomer’s Platform precisely because of these reasons. All the same, you are of course welcome to also submit more elaborate projects 

Can I apply simultaneously to all three components of the Berlin Performing Arts Festival (open submissions, Berlin Diagonale, Newcomer’s Platform)?

The production can only be presented as part of the Newcomer’s Platform or with the open submissions, but not both. The participation in Berlin Diagonale – Show Camp can be combined with your participation in the Newcomer’s Platform as with the open submissions. 

Who selects the work?

The applications will be reviewed by the coordinator of the Newcomer’s Platform and the artistic leadership of the cooperating performance venues. The performance venues will make the final selection.

When will I be informed whether my production was selected? 

The decisions will be announced by the middle of March 2018 at the latest.

How many times will my production be presented?

Each production will be presented once. All the same, we highly recommend that the artists involved in the Newcomer’s Platform participate in the workshops and exchange programs offered. The festival invites all participants to be an active part of the festival during all four days and expressly supports this.

What does the Newcomer’s Platform offer?

The Newcomer’s Platform would like to offer young artists the opportunity to present themselves to a (professional) audience within the scope of a festival. In addition, it also sees itself as a platform for networking and exchanging with other artists, performance venues, dramaturgs and industry professionals. This is why we provide the artists selected for the Newcomer’s Platform with invitations for additional internal programming (such as workshops, discussions with critics, advisement sessions) and, of course, the event held in the festival center. You are welcome to provide suggestions for the topics addressed in workshops or discussion formats in your application form.

Which expenses are covered? 

The Performing Arts Festival can pay a flat performance fee (oriented around the size of the group/number of participants) for the artists selected to be part of the Newcomer’s Platform. Costs for travel and transport can possibly be compensated in exceptional cases and only after prior discussion, although LAFT Berlin cannot guarantee this at this time. Any expenses for overnight accommodations cannot be compensated.

Who organizes the festival?

The Berlin Performing Arts Festival is an event shared between all independent performance venues, groups and artists working in Berlin, the independent performing arts community. The community is responsible for the festival artistically and organizationally. 

The festival is presented by LAFT Berlin in cooperation with the performance venues HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Sophiensaele, Ballhaus Ost and Theaterdiscounter. The festival coordination team works for LAFT Berlin. It centrally promotes the festival and the participating productions, both within Berlin and internationally.

Contact

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the Performing Arts Festival team.

Newcomer’s Platform: Katharina Bischoff
katharina.bischoff(at)performingarts-festival.de