produktionsDOCK

Producers for Future

The permanent shortage of qualified production managers in the performing arts is a problem for the independent scene and will become a lot worse in the future. Sustainable and reliable production management structures are needed to deal professionally with the increasingly complex production management conditions in the performing arts and in training newcomers.

The Basel-based production office produktionsDOCK was founded in 2017 for that purpose. In 2023, produktionsDOCK planned to use its many years of experience to help out with the “Producers for Future” project. The project was dedicated to the question of what is needed to make the job profile of production management more attractive, secure and sustainable, and how production structures can continue to exist independently of individual people. The production office will now cease operations at the end of 2024 due to a lack of secured funding.

In the last year before its closure, produktionsDOCK is focusing on writing down its knowledge in a straightforward manual and making it available to the entire independent scene. The result will be a collection of experiences and information on project management, staff administration, financing, association administration, etc. Easily accessible guidelines have been compiled that lead step-by-step through the processes to help artists with production-related tasks. This manual will serve as a guide and orientation aid for artists without production managers or young production managers.

The produktionsDOCK team is supported by Franziska Schmidt, who has extensive experience in the field and is fact-checking for them. In November 2024, the manual will be made publicly available in collaboration with m2act.