Nebenan/Vedle

A festival featuring theatre, dance, performance, installations, workshops and open studios

As part of “Nebenan” series, HELLERAU regularly spotlights countries and regions in Europe where independent artists work under difficult structural, economic, or political conditions. Following Belarus (2022), Ukraine (2023), Hungary (2024), and Slovakia (2025), HELLERAU’s fifth edition in 2027 focuses on the independent performing arts scene in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic has a rich theatrical landscape that has developed over time, featuring its ensemble theatres, Czech drama, musical theatre, as well as its world-famous puppet and marionette theatre. In recent decades, a highly diverse scene of independent theatre and performance art, contemporary dance and circus arts has emerged. This vibrant scene is characterised by a multitude of artistic projects and institutional roots in production theatres, guest performance venues and festivals.

Since the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic in October 2025, government policy under the new (former) Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of the populist ‘ANO Party’ has changed significantly. With coalition partners including the far-right party “Freedom and Direct Democracy” (SPD) and the “Motorists for Themselves” party (AUTO), the political situation in the Czech Republic is characterised by a significant shift to the right and a reorientation of policy.

Oto Klempíř of the AUTO party is responsible for the cultural sector. He has already caused a stir with his plans to abolish radio and television licence fees – a move that has sparked major protests, as there are fears that public service broadcasting could be subject to political influence. Significant changes to the way the Ministry of Culture operates and allocates fundinding, introduced without sufficient dialogue with the cultural community, are further heightening tensions and raising concerns across the cultural sector. In recent discussions with cultural practitioners and artists, there is growing concern that the new government will pursue a right-wing nationalist cultural policy and curtail the cultural diversity that has existed to date.

HELLERAU is particularly keen to invite representatives of the independent scene to present their artistic work and cultural strategies, with a view to fostering a deeper exchange between both sides in these uncertain times and thereby facilitating further collaboration. ‘Nebenan/Vedle. Independent Art from the Czech Republic’ invites artists and key figures from the vibrant contemporary cultural landscape to present their work at HELLERAU and to engage in dialogue with them. To accompany this, the history and present-day situation of the Czech Republic will be contextualised by experts and representatives of civil society.

In collaboration with DanceConnected, Prague.