• attending the performances and accompanying programme of Theater der Welt 2026 during the ITI Academy Week 
• exclusive artist and curational talks related to the festival
• participation in workshops on resilience and forms of collective resistance in the (Performing) Arts
• exchange and networking opportunities with international theatre makers and cultural practitioners
• 2 individual one-to-one mentoring sessions by artists of the ITI Academy LABs accompanying the ITI Academy Week

The participation in the entire programme is free of charge, but mandatory. Participation requires attendance and active participation in the entire program from 21 to 28 June 2026 as well as in the 3 online meetings in the run-up to the ITI Academy Week.

• tickets for performances and events of the festival THEATER DER WELT during the ITI Academy Week
• Hotel accommodation including breakfast 
• per diems 
• transfer by train from Berlin to Chemnitz as well as public transportation costs during the ITI Academy Week
• Travel and health insurance (for international fellows)
• assistance with visa applications and payment of visa fees (for international fellows)
• contribution to travel costs (train, 2nd class, or air travel, economy class). We recommend that applicants, especially those coming from countries with student and artist mobility programs, seek additional support through universities, research institutions, NGOs, or other relevant organizations. We are happy to help with this.

This global Open Call for the ITI Academy Week addresses artists, theatre makers and persons, who are…  

• connected to one of the national ITI centers from the worldwide network of the International Theatre Institute - or have an interest in becoming part of the worldwide ITI network
• at the beginning of their artistic career, but have already gathered some professional experience 
• enthusiastic about the power of theater and the arts as drivers of empathy, learning and change
• having a strong interest in the intersection of art, activism, social criticism, and social participation
• using their practice to raise questions about justice, sustainability, responsibility, and belonging
• having a good command of English.  

The application must include the following documents:

• Letter of motivation (max. 1 page) considering the following questions: 
  ► What do you hope to gain from the ITI Academy Week? 
  ► How does your current practice relate to current social issues? 
  ► How can you contribute to making the ITI Academy Week an enriching experience? 
• Brief classification of your connection to ITI (max. ½ page): Describe whether you are already involved in the ITI Worldwide network and/or the ITI Committee “Network of Emerging Arts Professionals” (NEAP), and if so, in what way. (This is not a condition for participation however).
• An artistic CV or a text which outlines your artistic background (max. one page), if necessary with links or an attachment (max. 5 pages) to work samples with short descriptions, images or sound material.

Please send your application by January 5, 2026, by E-mail (with attachement as Pdf) to academy@iti-germany.de

► The German Center of the International Theatre Institute is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and welcomes applicants with various experiences, knowledge, and artistic positions. We strongly encourage emerging professionals to apply, who had to leave their country of origin due to war or for political, social or economic reasons, as well as professionals facing structural exclusion or access barriers to the performing arts sector.

► We strive to make the program as accessible as possible. Individual needs and requirements will be queried in the further planning of the program.
► Unfortunately, the venues and workshop rooms in which the ITI Academy takes place are not all wheelchair accessible. However, we try to respond to different needs. 
► Since the working language of the ITI Academy is English, it is recommended to be able to speak and write English at a sufficient level.