Development of the “Sustainable Production” toolkit

The “Sustainable Production” toolkit was created as part of the BFDK “Sustainable Production” project. The aim of the project was to identify concrete courses of action for more sustainable working practices in the independent performing arts and for independent music ensembles, and to motivate and support those involved in moving towards more sustainable production processes.

Objective setting

To this end, the BFDK brought together stakeholders from the performing arts and independent music ensembles to jointly develop a toolkit that offers concrete, implementable measures for more sustainable production that can be applied to the heterogeneous target group and the specifics of the independent scene. Associations, interest groups, production and performance venues, artists and collectives from the performing arts and independent music ensembles were invited to participate in developing the toolkit. This was to ensure that all relevant perspectives and expertise were incorporated into the process.

The toolkit is intended to support the development of sustainable working methods that are both resource-efficient and socially and culturally responsible.

Procedure and structure

The toolkit is based on guidelines, checklists, reference works etc. and builds on the work of numerous networks and committed individuals who have been campaigning for sustainable change in the cultural landscape for years. An important point of reference here was the BFDK ECO RIDER, which already serves as an introduction to sustainable behaviour and has been further developed here. The project is a continuation and extension of this approach and thus contributes to the ongoing improvement of sustainability in the performing arts.

Two round tables were held as part of the project. Targeted and public invitations were sent out via the BFDK channels for this purpose. The purpose of the meetings was to facilitate an exchange and to discuss the needs and requirements of the stakeholders and the concrete design of the toolkit.

The process was closely supported by the project partners Verband Freie Darstellende Künste Bayern (Bavarian Association of Independent Performing Arts), Landesverband der Freien Theater in Sachsen (State Association of Independent Theatres in Saxony), LaFT – Landesverband Freie Darstellende Künste in Niedersachsen (State Association of Independent Performing Arts in Lower Saxony), NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland (German Dance Association) and FREO – Freie Ensembles und Orchester (Independent Ensembles and Orchestras).

The BFDK would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who worked with it to develop the toolkit.

The following sources were used as reference points in the development of the toolkit:

Sieben Personen sitzen in einer Arbeitsrunde um einen Tisch mit Papieren und Getränken, sie diskutieren gemeinsam.
© Janosch Weiss

BFDK

As the umbrella organisation of the 16 state associations and various affiliated associations operating nationwide, the BFDK sees itself as a cultural policy shaper, advocate and knowledge broker for the independent performing arts, their institutions and their stakeholders.

We represent the interests of all professionals working in the independent performing arts at federal level and act together with our member organisations in collaboration with the federal states and local authorities.
More information on BFDK is available here.

The BFDK attaches particular importance to environmental sustainability in its work – in the office, in the resource-conserving implementation of projects and in the climate-friendly organisation of events. It carried out the “Performing Arts – Performing Futures” project from 2022 to 2023, and the BFDK ECO RIDER was published for the first time in March 2022. Through BFDK ECO RIDER, the BFDK is already raising awareness on sustainable action among those working in the independent performing arts. These experiences and findings from the process have been incorporated into the development of the toolkit.

Zwei Personen sitzen nebeneinander auf Stühlen und arbeiten an Laptops auf dem Schoß. Ihre Oberkörper, Arme und Hände sind im Profil zu sehen.
© Janosch Weiss