Apply for Einstiegsförderung (entry-level funding) for performing arts/dance

Applications are possible from 18.05.2026 to 30.06.2026. The application deadline ends on 30.06.2026 at 23:59. Online applications must be received by 23:59. After 23:59, submission is no longer possible; transmissions already in progress will then be automatically cancelled. • The project begins and ends in the coming year The Einstiegsförderung (entry-level funding) is advertised in the current year for the following calendar year. • You live and work in Berlin Applicants must have their place of residence and the main focus of their work in Berlin. • You belong to at least one of the following groups: career starters, lateral entrants, career changers, returners • Career starters: persons who have completed professional training in the performing arts / dance of any genre but have not yet shown any productions in Berlin that have drawn interest from audiences and critics. • Lateral entrants: persons who can demonstrate the professional artistic quality of their work in the performing arts / dance of any genre, and who have not completed professional training in this field. • Career changers: persons who have already worked artistically in these fields (e.g. as a dancer or actor) and want to work as the artistically responsible person (e.g. as a director or choreographer). The condition for career changers is that they have not received project funding from the Bewilligungsstelle (approval authority) for the activity now applied for within the last five years. • Returners: persons who have completed professional training in the performing arts / dance of any genre and who, after a documented career break of at least five years, wish to re-enter their profession. The condition for returners is that they have not received project funding from the Bewilligungsstelle during the career break. • Premieres and performances take place in Berlin The funding program is intended to support Berlin's theater and dance scene. • No enrollment or employment as a professor at a university Applicants may still be enrolled at a university at the time of application. However, at the time funding is granted, written proof must be provided that the course of study has since been completed and that the applicant has been deregistered from the university.

• Application for Entry-Level Funding for Performing Arts/Dance Please submit the application and all attachments online. All required documents and evidence for upload must be submitted in PDF format. • Career starters: Relevant certificates (if already available) and, where applicable, documentation of academic/study projects or projects not carried out under one's own artistic responsibility in the field of performing arts/dance • Career changers (lateral entrants): Proof of professional artistic quality in the field of performing arts/dance e.g., reference letters, link to work samples, reference letters, etc. • Career switchers: Proof of their suitability through documentation of a work in the field of performing arts/dance e.g., link to work samples/projects, reference letters, etc. • Returners (re-entrants): Documentation of the most recent work before the career break in the field of performing arts/dance • Detailed project description (max. 4 MB, PDF file) • Information on which artistic project is planned and how it is to be realized – information on artistic planning and objectives, artistic profile and areas of focus (e.g., in terms of content, theme, and aesthetics). • Note: the total of 8 pages must not be exceeded. If the total of 8 pages is exceeded, the application will be excluded for formal reasons. • Artistic curriculum vitae (max. 2 MB, PDF file) • Detailed financing plan (max. 5 MB, xlsx file) • When drawing up the financing plan, please do not forget to include any mandatory items such as GEMA fees (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte – German music rights collecting society fees), KSK contributions (Künstlersozialkasse – artists' social insurance fund), Ausländersteuer (withholding tax on foreign artists), other administrative fees and the like, as well as any costs for removing barriers (accessibility). Admission revenue must be included in the financing plan. • Note: Please be sure to use the provided sample financing plan template to avoid formal exclusion, and also use the Excel xlsx format! Do not change the given structure of the template! The rows marked in yellow must not be changed. You may adapt or add to the items below the yellow-marked rows as needed. Simply leave any rows you do not need at 0.00 euros. • Please make sure that the totals in the online application form match the totals in the financing plan you attach. In the event of conflicting information, the application form shall apply. • List of project participants/is a fixed (permanent) group in place? (max. 1 MB, PDF file) • Spielstättenbescheinigung (venue confirmation, if possible) (max. 2 MB, PDF file) • Documentation and information material on previous artistic work, including study projects if applicable (max. 4 MB, PDF file) • Of particular relevance to career changers, career switchers and returners. • Information material such as press kits/programme booklets/cast lists/video links on the applicant's previous artistic activity and its reception by audiences and critics. Information, photos and videos that cannot be uploaded electronically may, where applicable, be viewed by the jury on your website. For this purpose, please be sure to provide the link to your website. If this is not possible, you may submit these work samples, labelled with your name (first and last name), by the submission deadline. • Proof of identity, proof of main residence in Berlin and, where applicable, proof of residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) (max. 2 MB JPEG, PNG, or PDF file) • For German nationals/EU citizens: a copy of both sides of your Personalausweis (identity card), if it contains your registered address, or a copy of the page with your Berlin address from your passport or passport substitute document plus the Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) (see "Further information") • For non-EU citizens: copy of your passport, copy of the Meldebestätigung (registration confirmation) (from the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten – State Office for Civil and Regulatory Affairs), residence permit (Aufenthaltsgenehmigung) with Berlin address and permission for self-employed work / additional sheet if applicable – please combine into one file and upload (please make sure that your permission to work is visible on the copy). • For group applications: GbR (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts – civil law partnership) contract/GbR declaration (max. 2 MB, PDF file) • For an association of natural persons, either the written GbR contract must be submitted, or, for groups without a written contract, a GbR declaration (provided no written GbR contract exists). • For a GbR of two people, one person must have their main residence in Berlin. For more than two people, at least half of the members must have their main residence in Berlin. • If not all required attachments are enclosed with the application in compliance with the stated specifications, the application will be excluded for formal reasons.

• Musterfinanzplan (sample financial plan) www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/foerderung/foerderprogramme/darstel • Erklärung zum Zusammenschluss von Künstler/-innen (declaration on the association of artists) www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/foerderung/foerderprogramme/darstel

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• Landeshaushaltsordnung Berlin (LHO) [Berlin State Budget Code] § 3 paragraph 1 gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=HO_BE_!_3 • Landeshaushaltsordnung Berlin (LHO) § 34 paragraph 2 gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=HO_BE_!_34

6 months

• Information sheet on the award of the Einstiegsförderung Darstellende Künste/Tanz (entry-level funding for performing arts/dance) (Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt [Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion]) www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/foerderung/foerderprogramme/darstel • Einstiegsförderung (entry-level funding) (Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt [Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion]) www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/foerderung/foerderprogramme/darstel • Apply for a Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120702/