It is now even more important to develop, strengthen and stabilise structures. The first steps on this path had already been taken in relation to dance with the Round Table for Dance in 2018 and the implementation, already begun, of the measures agreed by the Senate in December 2019 – and we must continue consistently along this path at precisely this time! As a first measure, Residency Funding as co-operation between Berlin presentation/productions venues and artists was advertised as a pilot project on March 12, 2020. The second measure, the pilot project Dance Practice as a long-term stipend, and for which the Contemporary Dance Berlin association and the Tanzbüro had already drawn up detailed implementation proposals with the Senate Department for Culture and Europe in January 2020, is expected to start in July 2020 with the call for applications planned for April/May. The third measure is concerned with strengthening decentralised locations for dance. Thanks to the €300,000 grant awarded to the Uferstudios production location, a great deal of progress has already been made, which we very much welcome. The further €100,000 available should now be awarded as soon as possible. For this, the Contemporary Dance Berlin association, the TanzRaumBerlin Network and the Tanzbüro have drawn up and communicated detailed proposals. Despite all the adversities that administrative departments are currently also facing, it would be an important signal if these three measures were brought forward quickly as an immediate strengthening of dance. The Contemporary Dance Berlin association, the TanzRaumBerlin Network and the Tanzbüro Berlin are ready to provide assistance with this at any time, similarly with the implementation of the additional measures from the Dance Round Table.”
The full open letter is available here (in German).