D06Theater in Competition
Diversity as a criterion for cultural funding
This subproject examines practices of human differentiation in contemporary cultural funding and the associated application process within theatre contexts. It explores how the selection of ‘funding-worthy’ theatre makers, in the course of cultural policy efforts toward diversification, relies on distinctions based on human categories.
At the same time, we explore a “poetology” of funding calls: To what extent do the concepts emphasized in these calls not only invite a certain group of people to apply, but also, in turn, promote specific aesthetic practices and thereby influence how society and its “personnel” are perceived by the public?
We examine, among other things, an EU cooperation project involving 12 publicly funded theaters, as well as German theater competitions and festivals such as the Theatertreffen and the Impulse Festival.
How do we work?
We explore our cases through expert interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. We examine the language used in funding calls and the resulting applications; we participate in festivals and theater competitions—as audience members, project ethnographers, and applicants. We are particularly interested in experts who are able and willing to critically reflect on jury work.
Project Team:
Dr. Stefanie Husel (Subproject Leader)
Sophie Blomen, MA (PhD Candidate)
Phillip Marx (Student Research Assistant)