Nachhaltig produzieren

Productions in the performing arts are always associated with the use of materials and resources - for props, technology or stage design, for example. Added to this is the mobility required for guest performances, which is also associated with high CO2 consumption. There is an urgent need for action to improve the carbon footprint in the performing arts, e.g. through clever, interdisciplinary approaches such as a circular economy for materials.

A catalogue of measures for a voluntary commitment to sustainable production was developed as part of ‘Nachhaltig produzieren’ in order to show performing arts stakeholders concrete opportunities for more sustainable action. Associations, interest groups, production and performance venues, artists and performing arts collectives were invited to actively participate in the development of the catalogue.

At the heart of the collaborative phase were two round tables (in Cologne and Berlin), to each of which around 50 stakeholders were invited to concretise and discuss the matrix's measures and fields of action. The aim was to ensure that the finished catalogue was suitable and feasible for the heterogeneous target group and that it did justice to the specifics of the independent performing arts. In terms of content, the focus was to be on operational ecological sustainability without, however, ignoring aspects of social, cultural and economic sustainability.

The stakeholders included associations and interest groups from various sectors, production and performance venues, artists and performing arts collectives as well as experts from the fields of diversity and accessibility in order to incorporate existing expertise.The first round table took place on 26 November 2024 at the Comedia Theatre in Cologne. After this very productive meeting, at which the measures were discussed, final feedback on the content and form of the catalogue was provided at the second round table on 7 May 2025 in Berlin and many stakeholders were won over to the voluntary commitment.

All institutions, associations, individual actors, collectives and artists are called upon to take the first steps towards greater sustainability and to disseminate the toolkit further into the scene.

This is how it works:

• Call up the toolkit and identify the first suitable measures for your own work.
• Email nachhaltig@darstellende-kuenste.de with a request for the signet
• Embed the signet on your own website and link to the ‘Nachhaltig produzieren' toolkit.
• Add your name to the list of supporters! Send an email to nachhaltig@darstellende-kuenste.de with your name, a photo and your own website.
• Share your progress under the hashtag #ichproduzierenachhaltig (and tag the BFDK if you like).

The project ‘Nachhaltig produzieren’ is a project of the Federal Association of Independent Performing Arts in cooperation with the Bavarian Association of Independent Performing Arts, the State Association of Independent Theatres in Saxony (LFTS), LaFT - State Association of Independent Performing Arts in Lower Saxony, NRW State Office of Independent Performing Arts, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland and FREO - Freie Ensembles und Orchester and is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.