To annual programme
[Translate to English:]
Dogville, Aalto Theater © Matthias Jung

New Music Theatre Fund

Special programme of the Ministry of Culture and Science in North Rhine-Westphalia for composition commissions, opera and dance productions featuring new and contemporary music, as well as revivals of such works.

Productions funded by the New Music Theatre Fund must involve in-house ensembles such as choirs, orchestras and vocal ensembles and be performed on the main stage.

There is no limit on the amount of funding that can be awarded. Depending on the production requirements in theatre practice, funding can be requested for project planning and implementation periods of up to three years.

Public music theatres with their own ensembles from North Rhine-Westphalia are eligible to apply.

The NRW KULTURsekretariat has been implementing the New Music Theatre Fund on behalf of the state since 2001. With the support of this funding instrument, almost 200 productions have been realised to date.   

Information on funding

Commissioned compositions, opera and dance productions featuring new and contemporary music, as well as revivals of such productions.

Productions involving the theatre's own ensemble (choir, orchestra, vocal ensemble).

Guest productions are not eligible for funding.

Municipal theatres and state theatres with their own ensemble from North Rhine-Westphalia.
Information on application deadlines for theatres is provided by the NRWKS (to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to foerderung@nrw-kultur.de). 
No limit.

Content-related reference for the ‘New Music Theatre Fund’ funding programme

Public accessibility

No project start (in terms of public relations, contract conclusions, commissioning, payments) before confirmation of the grant

Applications must be submitted exclusively via the NRWKS funding portal.

Click here for more information on the funding procedure.

Funded productions

Theatre Aachen: “Malina” by Karola Obermüller and Peter Gilbert, premiere: 02.05.2026

Theatre Bielefeld: “Kassandra” by Mathis Nitschke, Stefan Behrisch, world premiere, premiere: 21.02.2026

Theatre Dortmund: “WIR” by Sarah Nemtsov, world premiere, premiere: 14.05.2026

Theater Dortmund: “Brünhilde brennt” (WT) by Bernhard Lang, commissioned work, world premiere with staging: 04.04.2027

Theater Dortmund: »Der Himmel über Berlin« by Elena Kats-Chernin, commissioned work, premiere: 14.05.2028

Theater and Philharmonie Essen: »Day of Night« by Outi Tarkiainen, world premiere, premiere: 27.02.2027

Musiktheater im Revier, Gelsenkirchen: »Blau« by Kommando Himmelfahrt, world premiere, premiere: 19.09.2026

Cologne Opera: “PICTURE A DAY LIKE THIS” by Georg Benjamin, German first performance, premiere: 10.05.2026

Programmes

To annual programme
[Translate to English:]
Dogville, Aalto Theater © Matthias Jung

New Music Theatre Fund

Special programme of the Ministry of Culture and Science in North Rhine-Westphalia for composition commissions, opera and dance productions featuring new and contemporary music, as well as revivals of such works.

Productions funded by the New Music Theatre Fund must involve in-house ensembles such as choirs, orchestras and vocal ensembles and be performed on the main stage.

There is no limit on the amount of funding that can be awarded. Depending on the production requirements in theatre practice, funding can be requested for project planning and implementation periods of up to three years.

Public music theatres with their own ensembles from North Rhine-Westphalia are eligible to apply.

The NRW KULTURsekretariat has been implementing the New Music Theatre Fund on behalf of the state since 2001. With the support of this funding instrument, almost 200 productions have been realised to date.   

Information on funding

Commissioned compositions, opera and dance productions featuring new and contemporary music, as well as revivals of such productions.

Productions involving the theatre's own ensemble (choir, orchestra, vocal ensemble).

Guest productions are not eligible for funding.

Municipal theatres and state theatres with their own ensemble from North Rhine-Westphalia.
Information on application deadlines for theatres is provided by the NRWKS (to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to foerderung@nrw-kultur.de). 
No limit.

Content-related reference for the ‘New Music Theatre Fund’ funding programme

Public accessibility

No project start (in terms of public relations, contract conclusions, commissioning, payments) before confirmation of the grant

Applications must be submitted exclusively via the NRWKS funding portal.

Click here for more information on the funding procedure.

Funded productions

Theatre Aachen: “Malina” by Karola Obermüller and Peter Gilbert, premiere: 02.05.2026

Theatre Bielefeld: “Kassandra” by Mathis Nitschke, Stefan Behrisch, world premiere, premiere: 21.02.2026

Theatre Dortmund: “WIR” by Sarah Nemtsov, world premiere, premiere: 14.05.2026

Theater Dortmund: “Brünhilde brennt” (WT) by Bernhard Lang, commissioned work, world premiere with staging: 04.04.2027

Theater Dortmund: »Der Himmel über Berlin« by Elena Kats-Chernin, commissioned work, premiere: 14.05.2028

Theater and Philharmonie Essen: »Day of Night« by Outi Tarkiainen, world premiere, premiere: 27.02.2027

Musiktheater im Revier, Gelsenkirchen: »Blau« by Kommando Himmelfahrt, world premiere, premiere: 19.09.2026

Cologne Opera: “PICTURE A DAY LIKE THIS” by Georg Benjamin, German first performance, premiere: 10.05.2026

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