Introduction to the “Sustainable production” toolkit
As part of the “Sustainable Production” project, the BFDK has created a toolkit for more sustainable production in cooperation with the 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) and in a participatory process. Many partners, stakeholders in the performing arts and independent music ensembles were involved in the process. For more on the development process, see “Development of the toolkit“.
What is the toolkit?
Sustainability is a process. And the toolkit is a companion for this process. It is intended to help in enhancing practices or taking the first steps. The tool is primarily aimed at those involved in the (independent) performing arts and the independent music scene: artists, production managers, technicians, event organisers, artistic directors and anyone who helps shape and is responsible for artistic processes.
The toolkit was developed collaboratively. It is a tool for achieving more sustainable production in the independent performing arts. It is therefore an enhancement of the BFDK ECO RIDER. The toolkit is not a checklist to be worked through, rather it is a toolbox designed to help explore creative spaces, gain new perspectives and discover courses of action.
The toolkit contains over 200 measures that enable sustainable action in artistic production contexts. It takes account of a wide range of working realities and structural framework conditions. The BFDK wants to use it to motivate, inspire and empower.
Three levels for practical application
The toolkit for sustainable production in the independent performing arts and for independent music ensembles is divided into three levels. This allows the measures to be applied in a targeted and practical manner:
Stakeholder groups
The measures are aimed at four stakeholder groups:
- Individual stakeholders
- Collectives (with no venue of their own)
- Venues
- Festivals
Areas of activity
In terms of content, the toolkit is divided into seven areas of activity in which sustainability can be effectively implemented:
- Organisational structure
- Communication
- Stage
- Office and backstage
- Bar and Catering
- Transport and mobility
- Energy
Areas of application and measures
The areas of activity contain a total of 32 areas of application with over 200 practical measures. The measures offer a wide range of starting points for sustainable action – from steps that can be implemented in the short term to long-term structural changes.
How to toolkit
The toolkit provides you with simple and targeted guidance. You can explore it in two ways – depending on what suits you best:
Access via the stakeholder groups
Firstly, select the group that most closely matches your work situation:
- Individual stakeholders
- Collectives (with no venue of their own)
- Venues
- Festivals
Depending on which group you click on, a selection of areas of activity will appear:
- Organisational structure
- Communication
- Stage
- Office and backstage
- Bar and Catering
- Transport and mobility
- Energy
Once you have selected the areas of activity you would like to look at, after clicking again, you will see the result of your selection. You will then see a list of the areas of application and their measures. This way, you only see what is relevant to your work context and avoid losing track.
Because individual stakeholders and collectives also act as organisers, the toolkit also contains measures for event planning for these two groups.
Access via the areas of activity
The tookit may be explored via the seven areas of activity
- Organisational structure
- Communication
- Stage
- Office and backstage
- Bar and Catering
- Transport and mobility
- Energy
Each area of activity contains several areas of application. The measures are grouped by topic here. Once you select the areas of activity you would like to look at, after clicking again, you will see the result of this selection. You will then see a list of the associated areas of application and their measures.
Additional content for orientation and consolidation
You will find additional information and assistance for many areas of application:
- Good to know: Tips on what to look out for during implementation. Always intended to motivate – as an invitation to find your own way.
- Further reading: Further content and links – e.g. on strategies such as the environmental handprint, providers of cargo bikes or calculation tools for estimated CO2 emissions from various trips – help you to better understand the background and implement measures more easily.
- Good practice examples: Inspiration from practice – this shows how others have already implemented certain aspects of sustainability.
