PROMOTING FORWARD LOOKING THEATRE-MAKERS IN COOPERATIVE PROJECTS

The foundation fosters the practical development of young theatre professionals, particularly set designers and their work with directors. We initiate theatrical workshops and a lively network between students and emerging artists, annually facilitating mutually beneficial design projects to enhance the artists’ craft and provide a practical supplement to courses offered by universities and colleges of applied science.

We aim to promote productions open to public discourse. We support projects from state or cultural institutions in conceptual, organizational or financial capacities. We are a non-profit organization under voluntary management.

Support us in the continued success of this simple, innovative model, offering young, talented theatre-makers a unique artistic development opportunity.

OPERATION CO-OPERATION

Our aim is to facilitate co-operative projects in which teams work without hierarchy. Theatre practitioners collaborate with ideas and commitment, offering individual contributions while taking shared responsibility for their work. We endeavour to support the development and production of projects that are conceptually inspired by contemporary social interests and are stylistically unrestricted. Above all we support the collaboration between artists that is intrinsic to producing theatrical imagery. To that end we are uniquely placed in the German-speaking theatre industry to showcase the vibrant diversity of the set and production professions and their merit of support.

We endeavour to support project models with creative training processes that reflect our society, culture and profession. We believe the meeting of artists in the early stages of their professional development fundamentally influences their evolution as future theatre practitioners.

HISTORY

It started in 2003 with the K.O. series, thanks to the financial and logistical help of the former co-production partners Andreas Homoki (Komische Oper Berlin) and Matthias Lilienthal (Hebbel am Ufer). By 2012 there had been over 80 production teams compiled of directing, stage and costume design students in Hebbel am Ufer, more than 30 premieres of short works, operas, singspiele, experimental theatre projects, choral pieces, world premieres and free developments relating to current themes in the Academy of Arts and in Theater der Berlin University of the Arts. The collaborations included voice, theatre, music, dance, puppetry, lighting, theatre technique and theatre studies students from colleges in Berlin and higher education institutions of national and international origin.

FUNDING

Support the foundation with the aim of improving conditions for artists, so that their scenic concepts may be professionally realized. To this purpose we accept grants and donations, and encourage you to participate in our funding model; you will be joining many theatregoers, volunteers, notable artists and luminaries from theatre, opera and training institutions to support the K.O funding project and ensure its continuation.

We welcome all financial support, from small, individual contributions through to collective donations or promotion by advertising and word of mouth.

Support us in the continued success of this simple, innovative model, offering young, talented theatre-makers a unique artistic development opportunity.