CCB Magazine

What sustainability consultancies are there in Berlin? In part 1 of our series "Sustainability Consultancies in Berlin" we talk to Christin Eckart from the Consultancy of the Performing Arts Program at LAFT Berlin, who specifically advises on sustainability issues in the performing arts.

INTERVIEW  Jens Thomas     anDJosephine Lass

CCB Magazine: Hello Christin, how long has your consulting service been available? What is your focus and what distinguishes or differentiates you from other sustainability consultancies in Berlin?

Christin Eckart: The Performing Arts Program's counseling center has been in existence since 2013 for the field of the arts, but we have only been offering consultations since January 2022. Our expert Konstanze Grotkopp advises on key issues that primarily affect work in the performing arts. As far as I know, we are the only consultation with that speciality in Berlin. Thanks to our funding, our consultations and events are free of charge. However, we can only advise people who live in Berlin.

CCB Magazine:Can you describe a classic case? I am person XY and want to get advice from you: What can you do for me?

Christin Eckart:A typical consulting request would be, for example, that of a stage or costume designer who would like to find out about sustainable working methods and strategies for a resource-saving handling of the material. Then there are also managers of groups or production houses who want to get advice on reducing emissions at the production site or during guest performances. The advice should always be as concrete as possible. That's why ideally, we are given specific topics or questions to ask when we receive a request for advice. For example, "How can I, as an independent group in Berlin, conserve resources and be environmentally friendly in the production of my stage? " Or "What can we focus on or pay attention to in our day-to-day office life in Theatre XY?" Consultations are scheduled for up to two hours. Our advice seekers are usually artists, production locations or production managements.

Our consulting focus is on ecological sustainability. This relates to questions on material cycles, climate balancing, the mobility of all parties involved or the political framework conditions

CCB Magazine:Are there individual key topics? On which issues do you not advise, and to whom do you refer?

Christin Eckart:We focus our consulting on ecological sustainability, which refers to questions about material cycles, climate balancing, the mobility of all participants, or the political framework conditions, but also on issues of social sustainability such as participation and fair remuneration, etc. Although the latter is more likely to be dealt with by our national association or by other experts in other consulting services. In areas that we do not or not sufficiently advise we refer to our partners. In the area of "sustainable touring" this would be, for example, the colleagues from Touring Artists. For questions that are more related to music or the visual arts, our colleagues from the Music Pool Berlin, the INM or the BBK are the right people to contact.

CCB Magazine:How are you staffed? What are your professional and/or academic backgrounds?

Christin Eckart:We work together with around 40 experts and provide advice on 25 production and distribution-related topics in currently 12 languages. Our sustainability expert, Konstanze Grotkopp, studied stage and costume design at the HfBK Dresden and ÉNSAD Paris and dance productions - among others at the Theaterhaus Jena, the Semper Opera Dresden or at the Parkaue Berlin. With her background and experience as stage and costume designer as well as the further education she completed in 2021 to become a transformation manager for sustainable culture at the IHK, she is the ideal advisor for the independent scene.

CCB Magazine:And how is your project funded?

Christin Eckart:The counseling center of the Performing Arts Program is financed by the European Social Fund and the Berlin Senate. Our projects usually run for two years; the current project ends on project ends on August 30 and we are currently in the process of reapplying. So: Fingers crossed!

For us, sustainability does not mean doing without, but stands for the chance to make better use of our scarce resources

CCB Magazine:How often can one get advice from you? And how many consultations have you done already?

Christin Eckart:Consultations can be taken up with us three to four times a quarter, and there is no limit for workshops, info and networking events. Since we started offering sustainability consultations, we have only been able to facilitate a handful of consultations. That doesn't sound like much, but it's important to remember that sustainability issues are a major concern for many artists, especially during the pandemic. Sustainability was not a top priority for many artists, especially during the pandemic years - for existential as well as practical reasons. In recent years, it was a matter of being able to produce in the first place. Without production, the question of its sustainability does not arise.

CCB Magazine:In addition to your consulting services, do you have any other services or offers for creative professionals and/or creative businesses?

Christin Eckart:The Performing Arts Program aims to address all issues that affect independent dance and theater professionals. Our services range from legal questions to marketing and conceptual concept strategies to costing and financing of projects. Sustainability is only one part of it. In addition, we offer seminars and workshops as well as information and networking events on individual key topics. A sustainable form of qualification and support artists and cultural actors will find a sustainable form of qualification and support in the mentoring program. Here, experienced mentors provide their expertise to the selected mentees in individual coaching sessions with their expertise over the course of the project.

CCB Magazine:Please complete this sentence: For me, sustainability means...

Christin Eckart:...not a renunciation, but the chance to find a better way to deal with our scarce resources before we have taken away the basis of our work and life with "too much" consumption, work, pressure or waste. Of course, this requires a political course to be set, but also a fear-free change in society as a whole, so that the transformation can succeed.