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

What is funded under the programme?

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.

Who can submit an application?

Municipal theatres and state theatres with their own ensemble from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Is there a deadline for applications?

Information on application deadlines for theatres is provided by the NRWKS (to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to info@nrw-kultur.de).

What is the funding amount?

No limit.

What funding conditions must be met?

Content-related reference for the ‘Fonds Neues Musiktheater’ funding programme

Public accessibility

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

How do I apply for funding?

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: “Die griechische Passion” by Bohuslav Martinů, premiere: 26.04.2025

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: “Brünhildes Traum” (WT) by Mike Svoboda, commissioned work, premiere: 08/2026

Theatre and Philharmonie Essen: “The Listeners” by Missy Mazzoli, new production and German first performance, premiere: 25.01.2025

Theatre Hagen: “American Mother” by Charlotte Bray, world premiere, premiere: 31.05.2025

Cologne Opera: “Die letzten Tage der Menschheit” by Philippe Manoury, commissioned work, world premiere, premiere: 27.06.2025

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

Theatre Krefeld and Mönchengladbach: “Die Passagierin” by Mieczylaw Weinberg, premiere: 19.04.2025

Wuppertal Opera: “Thumprint” by Kamala Sankaram, European premiere, premiere: 20.06.2025