Together with the 21 cities and one regional association as well as other municipal, supraregional and international cultural partners, the NRWKS, based in Wuppertal, initiates, promotes and organizes a wide range of programs, projects and events in the fields of theater, music, visual arts, literature and dance - often cross-disciplinary and experimental.
The focus is on international and digital art and culture as well as on ecological sustainability, cultural diversity and artistic experimentation.
In a cooperative, dialogic and participatory way, the NRWKS connects actors and multipliers from many cultural fields, sets impulses in cultural-political discourses and creates something new for the cities and the state. The NRWKS promotes and connects, initiates and organizes, develops and also transfers the new topics and structures to municipal and other public sponsors.
As part of its international activities, the NRWKS coordinates the International Visitors Program in close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Also in cooperation with the NRW Ministry of Culture, NRWKS has been managing the New Paths profile funding for municipal theaters and orchestras in NRW since the end of 2018.
In addition, the NRW Ministry of Culture provides the NRWKS with special annual funding for the New Music Theater Fund.
Structure and funding
The NRWKS consists of a team of permanent and freelance employees who organize and coordinate the program work in close cooperation with the individual cultural partners, accompanied by selection committees, advisory boards and juries. Chairwoman until June 30, 2023: Dr. Christiane Zangs, Neuss; from July 1, 2023: Cornelia Wilkens, Münster. Deputy chairman until June 30, 2023: Jörg Stüdemann, Dortmund; from July 1, 2023: Miriam Koch, Düsseldorf. Director: Dr. Christian Esch.
The work is steered by the committees Working Committee and Plenary Assembly. In addition, there is a regular program committee at the working level of the participating municipalities. Numerous programs and projects are discussed and decided in advisory boards, juries and boards of trustees.
The institution NRWKS is financed by its partner cities, while project funding is provided by the state of NRW, but program-related funding is also provided by foundations and other sponsors at state and federal level. Funding is provided within the framework of a program adopted annually by the plenary assembly of member cities.
