#ohneUnsGibtEsNichts ZuSehen

On this day of discourse, the key subject of “working realities of scenographers” will be combined with a focus on “green”, which can be seen both literally – when we are talking about sustainable working methods – and in an artistic and social sense when the issue at hand is taking a stance for better working conditions, a beneficial working atmosphere and a sustainable future for this profession.
The day will begin with expert panels on the artistic definition of the profession’s profile, visibility both with the critics and within the creative team, shrinking budgets and fees as well as increased demands caused by sustainable production methods. At the same time, we will address the question of how dependable funding for a German contribution to the Prague Quadrennial can be safeguarded in the future.
There will be a safe space for communication on topics like experiences of discrimination, power imbalances and parenthood in the field of scenography. Szenografie-Bund will give insights into their work of the past years by reviewing their model contract and a sustainability application, and communicate the reform package, current fee recommendations and information from the union ver.di.
The final panel discussion will deal with keeping theatre and scenography relevant in times of digitization, war and climate crises.

Programme

11:30 Accreditation

12:00 Welcome address by the directors of Theatertreffen and the board of Szenografie-Bund e. V.

12:15–13:30 EXPERT PANEL ON VISIBILITY AND COPYRIGHT (ART)
Judith Adam, Till Briegleb, Georg Kasch, Esther Slevogt in conversation with Wolfgang Menardi and Thea Hoffmann-Axthelm
Scenographers sees themselves as creators of worlds and facilitators of communication, and this potential is increasingly recognised and in demand, even outside of the classic theatre environment. This panel will talk about the profession’s visibility and about the question of how scenographers can position themselves with more confidence within creative teams and boost set and costume design as an art form in itself in the eyes of reviewers.

13:30–14:15 Lunch break

14:15–14:30 30 INSIGHT INTO MODEL CONTRACTS AND THE CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING FEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Oliver Kummer, Gregor Sturm

14:30–15:45 EXPERT PANEL ON BUDGETS, FEES AND SUSTAINABILITY (MONEY)
Ulrich Khuon, Almut Reitz, Florian Steinmann, Ralph Zeger in conversation with Wolfgang Menardi and Thea Hoffmann-Axthelm
This panel is dedicated to a comprehensive complex of issues including budgets, fees and sustainability: How can the significance of scenography with regards to the freedom of design and creative presence be maintained or protected in the German-language theatre in the face of decreasing budgets, rising prices and the additional demands of sustainable production?
Working sustainably also means drawing on the concepts of others. Do we need a new approach to costume and set stores (digitized stores, better storage and space management, copyrights)? We will also address possibly controversial solutions like external sponsoring, reduced production and less training of young artists. More transparent fees and the waiving of privileges may be ways to counteract the problems of fee-gaps, gender-pay-gaps and glass ceilings.

15:45–16:15 Afternoon break

16:15–16:30 INSIGHT TO THE PILOT PROJECT SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION IN THE THEATRE
Teresa Monfared, Ralph Zeger

16:30–18:00 FINAL PANEL ON THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF THE PROFESSION
Evi Bauer, Pablo Dornhege, Martin Miotk, Theda Nilsson-Eicke, Michael Simon, Mirjam Stängl in conversation with Thea Hoffmann-Axthelm und Wolfgang Menardi
A final panel talk will address the issue of how theatre/scenography can remain relevant in times of digitization, war and climate crisis. Sensuality, directness, immediacy, common and shared experience, assertion and the power of wondering are the things that make scenography unique. Theatre is always real, precisely because it is limited and renders its limitations visible. And yet we have to keep finding new artistic positions and ask how the theatre may continue to exist aesthetically and how it can deal with people and nature in a friendlier and more respectful way.

18:00–18.30 EMAS-AWARD CEREMONY FOR BURGTHEATER, VIENNA
Jacob Bilabel, Wiebke Leithner, Matthias Pees

Followed by informal get-together at the conclusion of the event

With

Jacob Sylvester Bilabel Head of Aktionsnetzwerk Nachhaltigkeit in Kultur und Medien
Till Briegleb Journalist, author
Pablo Dornhege Professor Transmedial Design Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin
Georg Kasch Editor nachtkritik.de
Ulrich Khuon Artistic director Deutsches Theater Berlin
Oliver Kummer Lawyer
Wiebke Leithner Deputy commercial director Burgtheater, Vienna
Matthias Pees Artistic director Berliner Festspiele
Almut Reitz Head of workshops Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
Esther Slevogt Editor nachtkritik.de
Florian Steinmann Technical director Staatstheater Nürnberg
Judith Adam, Evi Bauer, Philip Bußmann, Thea Hoffmann-Axthelm, Wolfgang Menardi, Martin Miotk, Teresa Monfared, Theda Nilsson-Eicke, Michael Simon, Mirjam Stängl, Gregor Sturm, Ralph Zeger Scenographers