Since its establishment in 2019, the German Federal Cultural Foundation has funded the majority of the fellowships at the Academy for Theater and Digitality. Here, time, space and opportunities were created to conduct prototypical research into the latest digital technologies and methods for interdisciplinary use in the theater. A total of 71 scholarship holders from 20 countries came to Dortmund to try out the theater of tomorrow. In the future, the Academy for Theater and Digitality will focus on diversifying artistic and technical research. In particular, the focus will be on integration within the regional scene in North Rhine-Westphalia and other federal states. Cooperation with various theaters, former fellows, young talents, festivals and the independent scene creates a colorful potpourri of digital arts.
Under the umbrella of the new project partner Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR), the Academy for Theater and Digitality, in cooperation with Urbanatix, Pottporus e.V., Theater im Depot and Folkwang University of the Arts, promotes young talent for the arts and culture sector. Young people aged 16 and over can apply in the areas of new circus, electronic music, urban arts and digital arts and performances and have the opportunity to receive two years of mentoring from experts in the respective field to support their own career entry into the arts.
European theaters are also dedicating themselves to the development and implementation of digital technologies for youth theater as part of the long-standing large-scale project "PlayOn!". On September 8 and 9 of this year, the Academy for Theatre and Digitality will come together with the previous fellows and partners of "PlayOn!" at the VAT Theater in the Estonian capital Tallinn to celebrate the completion of two project strands. A large number of productions were created together with "PlayOn!" and Theater Dortmund. The fellowship funding from the German Federal Cultural Foundation has also brought international artists to Dortmund with great success over the past five years and enriched the possibilities of the theater with the digital.
The Academy for Theater and Digitality is delighted to be an official cooperation partner after supporting and participating in the previous editions of the PAD Festival in 2020 and 2022. With the OPEN PORT Award, it supports young directors on their way into (digital) theater and will be represented with a variety of works and inputs from Academy members and previous fellows. The PAD Festival will take place from 24 - 27 October 2024 in Wiesbaden.
In a regional context, the Academy for Theater and Digitality will take part in the Port Walk, which will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Port of Dortmund on 31.08.2024. For the first time, it will perform a specially produced show for the Dortmund audience as part of the event. On 27.02.2025, the Academy for Theater and Digitality will also once again be the venue for the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Chamber Concerts.
Upcoming events:
31.08.2024 Harbour walk
27.02.2025 4th Chamber Concert String Quartet plus (Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra)