Advisory Structures
The Berlin dance and cultural scene has a dense network of specialized advisory and support structures—from artistic development, promotion, and production to legal, social, and international issues to diversity, mobility, and crisis counseling. These free or low-threshold services are aimed at dance professionals and performing arts practitioners at all stages of their careers and promote sustainable, fair, and professional working conditions.
Tanzbüro Berlin
Tanzbüro Berlin is the central contact and advice center for Berlin's dance scene—for professional dancers as well as anyone interested in contemporary dance and performance. It offers free advice, information, networking opportunities, and continuing education; organizes public and internal advisory services, group or individual discussions, seminars, and continuing education formats for dancers, choreographers, and dance productions. In addition, Tanzbüro Berlin operates TanzRaumBerlin, the central information and event system for dance in Berlin, publishes the magazine tanzraumberlin, the portal tanzschreiber for dance criticism and texts, and offers the tanzcard, a discount card for dance events.
https://tanzbuero-berlin.de
Stiftung Tanz - Transition Zentrum Deutschland
Diversity and artistic excellence require support and promotion: from promoting young talent and nurturing talent during training and throughout their careers to helping them transition to a new profession at the end of their careers. This is where the TANZ – Transition Center Germany foundation aims to promote and support dancers and dance professionals in particular.
www.stiftung-tanz.com/wir-helfen
PAP – Performing Arts Programm Berlin
The Performing Arts Program Berlin is the central support structure for the independent performing arts scene in Berlin. It offers free consultations, workshops, and continuing education courses on topics such as project development, grant applications, legal issues, production, communication, and professionalization. The program is supplemented by mentoring programs and structured qualification formats for beginners and experienced artists.
https://pap-berlin.de
Kreativ Kultur Berlin
Kreativ Kultur Berlin is the central, interdisciplinary advice center for creative professionals and players in the creative industries in Berlin. It provides free support on questions relating to funding opportunities, financing, business models, self-employment, and project development, and offers workshops and individual advice. Its aim is to promote the sustainable professionalization of cultural projects and structures.
https://kreativkultur.berlin
Creative Service Center (WeTeK Berlin)
The Creative Service Center at WeTeK Berlin gGmbH offers consulting and training services for independent artists and creative professionals on topics such as starting a business, accounting, taxes, marketing, and social security. The services are aimed at cultural professionals in all fields, including the performing arts, who work or live in Berlin. They combine individual consulting with seminars and workshops.
https://wetek.de/qualifizierung-coaching-empowerment/?event-categories=kreativ-selbststaendig
Touring Artists
Touring Artists is an information and advisory platform for mobile artists and cultural professionals. It offers guidance on visa and residence issues, taxes, social security, transportation, customs, and legal frameworks for international activities. The service is particularly relevant for performing artists who work on tour or realize cross-border projects.
https://touring-artists.info
On the Move
On the Move is an information network for cultural mobility with more than 35 members in 20 countries across Europe and beyond. Our mission is to promote and facilitate cross-border mobility and cooperation, thereby contributing to the creation of a vibrant and shared European cultural space that is strongly networked worldwide.
www.on-the-move.org
Diversity Arts Culture
Diversity Arts Culture supports cultural professionals and institutions in developing structures that are sensitive to discrimination and oriented toward diversity. Its services include anti-discrimination counseling, empowerment formats, awareness-raising workshops, and process support on issues of power and participation in the cultural sector. It also specifically targets actors in the performing arts.
https://diversity-arts-culture.berlin
Themis – Vertrauensstelle gegen sexuelle Belästigung und Gewalt e.V.
Themis is an independent counseling center for people in the cultural and media industries who have been affected by sexual harassment, abuse of power, or sexual violence, or who have witnessed such incidents. It offers confidential legal and psychosocial counseling as well as support in clarification and complaint processes. In addition, Themis is committed to prevention and awareness-raising within cultural work contexts.
https://themis-vertrauensstelle.de
SMartDE
SMartDe supports self-employed creative professionals, artists, and cultural workers in the administration and management of their creative activities. SMartDe offers personal contacts for subject-specific questions, project management, contract and invoicing, legal assistance, and much more. Individual consultations are free of charge. Membership is required for more extensive or long-term consulting.
www.smart-de.org