{"id":553,"date":"2026-04-24T16:31:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T14:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/preview.popboard.nrw\/cultural-policy\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T13:09:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T11:09:29","slug":"cultural-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/cultural-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultural Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"themen-und-positionen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Themen und Positionen<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW sees itself as a central platform for developing cultural policy positions and unified advocacy for pop culture in North Rhine-Westphalia. It strengthens exchange, networking, and knowledge transfer between scene stakeholders and political<em><\/em>decision-makers.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It highlights structural deficits, calls for better framework conditions, and develops sustainable solutions together with politicians and the scene \u2013 for a diverse, future-proof, and sustainably strengthened pop location in NRW.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Policy Priorities of PopBoard NRW<\/h3>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Recognition of Pop Culture as a Cultural Asset<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pop culture is an independent, equivalent art form with cultural, social, and economic relevance. Its consideration in funding programs and decision-making processes must be a given. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Distributional Justice and Structural Security<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funding must be distributed fairly among all cultural forms. Pop cultural infrastructures require permanent, reliable funding at municipal, regional, and state levels. Pop cultural work deserves appropriate appreciation and fair remuneration.  <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Democratization of Culture<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Culture is a human right: everyone has the right to produce, share, receive, and co-create culture. Pop cultural stakeholders, especially queer, migrant, and other marginalized individuals such as people with disabilities or FLINTA* persons, must be actively involved in cultural policy decision-making processes and institutions. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Diversity of Cultural Expressions<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cultural diversity, social participation, inclusion, and sustainability are central values of pop cultural work. Pop culture stands for open spaces and access, especially for young, migrant, subcultural, marginalized, and community-based forms of expression. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Data-Based Cultural Policy<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regular studies, surveys, and monitoring create a robust basis for cultural policy action and contribute to the empowerment of the scene.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Pop Culture as a Cross-Cutting Task<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pop culture also operates at the intersection of culture, youth, education, urban development, economy, and social affairs. Funding policy must enable cross-departmental thinking and action. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Policy Demands of PopBoard NRW<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What does the pop scene in NRW need in the next five years?  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW is an overarching platform for key stakeholders and associations that collectively shape and develop North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location. The state boasts a pop ecosystem highly relevant in cultural, social, and economic terms: North Rhine-Westphalia hosts more festivals annually than any other federal state. It is Germany&#8217;s second-largest music industry hub and is supported by an extremely diverse scene of hundreds of clubs, organizers, associations, and initiatives, strong independent structures comprising numerous labels, publishers, and studios, and not least countless acts and music creators. Thus, pop culture plays an outstanding role in cultural value creation, participation, creativity, and innovation in the state.     <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the economic and structural significance of NRW as a pop location, pop culture develops its own societal power: it gives a voice to marginalized groups in particular, advocates for gender equality and inclusion, and makes an essential contribution to promoting democracy with its pronounced diversity of cultural expressions.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do justice to these diverse dimensions and secure the future of pop culture, PopBoard NRW formulates central cultural policy positions below, which are intended to make a systematic and sustainable contribution to securing, strengthening, and further developing North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location.  <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/260505_PopBoard-NRW_Was-braucht-die-Popszene-in-NRW_Kulturpolitische-Forderungen-und-Positionen.pdf\">To the PDF  <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A) Funding &amp; Financing (Structural Security)<strong> <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Goal:<\/strong> Planning security, reliability, and equality of pop funding<\/p>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Permanent Anchoring of Pop Funding in the State Budget<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW demands permanent anchoring in the state budget and multi-year funding commitments for pop funding to create planning security beyond annual limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cultural and societal influence of pop is structurally weakened by the logic of short-term project funding and uncertain budgets. Those who build festivals, tours, talent development, venue development, consulting structures, or regional networks need reliable long-term prospects. The state of NRW has the task of securing pop as an equal part of basic cultural provision. This must be reflected at all levels: in corresponding cultural policy prioritizations, stable budget allocations, and suitable funding instruments.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pop funding is a cross-cutting issue and must be conceived across departments and equipped with adequate resources in the state budget.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Micro-funding for Concerts  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The situation for musicians and bands in North Rhine-Westphalia who are at the beginning of their artistic development is increasingly tense. Although many clubs and organizers have a clear interest in realizing concerts with emerging talents and small acts, thereby making an active cultural contribution, the increasing economic pressure on venues and independent organizers significantly complicates this work. This makes it much harder for many acts to find sufficient performance opportunities.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, clubs and venues are increasingly caught in a conflict of objectives between cultural aspirations and economic necessity: to maintain their own operations, they must increasingly opt for events with reliable economic prospects \u2013 at the expense of concerts with less established acts, new projects, or experimental formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is precisely where cultural funding comes in: it should enable artistic development, support innovation and experimentation, and cushion the financial risk associated with such events. Against this background, establishing a statewide funding program for low-threshold micro-funding in the concert sector makes sense. Such a program should enable the funding of individual concerts with small amounts and deliberately rely on simple, unbureaucratic procedures.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applications should be possible for clubs, organizers, and musicians alike. The implementation of such a program could build on existing expert structures in the music and cultural sector that have relevant expertise and networks. On this basis, professionally competent jury procedures could also be established to ensure that artistic quality, innovation, talent development, and diversity in concert events are adequately considered in funding decisions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With comparatively little financial and administrative effort, a widespread impact \u2013 including in rural areas \u2013 could be achieved: more performance opportunities for music creators, greater programmatic freedom for clubs and organizers, and a sustainable strengthening of artistic development and visibility of the diversity of pop culture in North Rhine-Westphalia.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Strengthening Basic Funding: Low-Threshold Funding Projects up to \u20ac25,000  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW demands consistently low-threshold funding practices and the expansion of effective small-project funding for pop culture, because the logics and needs of pop cultural work often do not fit established funding frameworks. Pop in North Rhine-Westphalia is often supported by individual artists, collectives, volunteer associations, and other independent initiatives that work with comparatively small budgets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Programs designed for large sums, long lead times, and complex project architectures exclude many of these stakeholders. For small funding amounts, the same bureaucratic requirements often apply as for top-tier funding. This creates a disproportion between administrative effort and funding volume, ties up creative energy, and complicates access \u2013 especially for new or semi-professional scenes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cultural policy should not only promote pop where structures are already large and formalized. Pop cultural work is often characterized by flexible structures, small budgets, and short production cycles. Funding instruments must take these realities into account. This requires simple, fully digital application procedures, short processing times, clear criteria, and lean documentation. Funding lines should also enable smaller needs and be accessible at short notice.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, transparent and proactive communication from funding bodies is necessary, for example, through clear examples, easy-to-read guidelines, accessible contact persons, and low-threshold information offers. Bureaucracy reduction and genuine low-threshold access are not comfort issues here, but prerequisites for cultural participation, talent development, and the resilience of the pop infrastructure in the state. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B) Sustainability &amp; Professionalization<\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Goal:<\/strong> Sustainability and genuine substantive engagement with the needs of the scene<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Consolidation of PopBoard NRW Funding  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since its founding in 2021, PopBoard NRW has established itself as a central platform for pop culture in North Rhine-Westphalia. The consulting services offered by PopBoard NRW are in high demand, demonstrating the scene&#8217;s great need for professional support in developing and implementing cultural projects. PopBoard NRW&#8217;s conference formats, mentoring programs, and studies and publications are also used statewide, providing the scene and policymakers with important data, analyses, and expert knowledge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, PopBoard NRW has quickly developed into an important interface between the scene, politics, and administration. As an advocacy group and point of contact, it bundles practical perspectives, brings expert knowledge into cultural policy processes, and helps strategically guide the structural development of North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location. In doing so, PopBoard NRW closes a gap that had long existed compared to other federal states.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the effectiveness of this work is significantly limited by current funding practices. The annually re-applied project funding complicates reliable planning and leads to significant resources being tied up in application and administrative processes. In addition, approvals often only occur during the course of the fiscal year, which further complicates continuous project work and stable employment structures.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the sustainable development of North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location, a reliable and long-term funding perspective for PopBoard NRW is therefore needed. Multi-year funding would create planning security, reduce administrative overhead, and allow the organization to focus more on its substantive work for the scene, politics, and the public. Such consolidation would sustainably strengthen the long-term effectiveness of existing offerings and secure the strategic further development of pop culture in North Rhine-Westphalia.  <strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Targeted Further Development of Pop Funding: Closing Funding Gaps<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The existing pop funding system in North Rhine-Westphalia must be consistently further developed. We demand closing the gap between emerging talent and top-tier funding and creating a funding landscape that realistically reflects pop-specific career paths. Pop does not develop linearly and cannot be forced into the funding logics of other sectors. Therefore, interconnected programs are needed that promote emerging talent, secure artistic development, and specifically support professionally active artists in crucial phases.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Existing programs such as create music NRW and popNRW must be expanded. Additionally, currently missing funding components are needed, for example, for songwriting, mentoring, production phases, recordings and releases, as well as work and development grants for professionally active musicians. Talent development in pop must be considered independently of age. North Rhine-Westphalia finally needs a funding system that enables transitions instead of letting careers fail due to structural gaps.   <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Strengthening the Creative Economy as Part of the Pop Infrastructure  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pop funding must not be limited to artists alone. To strengthen pop in North Rhine-Westphalia, the entire value chain must be considered. We therefore demand that the creative economy be systematically recognized as part of the pop infrastructure and definitively included in funding logics. Labels, publishers, management, booking agencies, organizers, and live venues are not marginal players, but central anchors for visibility, professionalization, and sustainable careers in pop.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They build up artists, create reach, secure exploitation structures, and decisively shape NRW as a pop location. A funding policy that ignores these stakeholders remains incomplete. North Rhine-Westphalia therefore needs funding formats that meaningfully complement existing programs, leverage synergies, and finally take the creative economy seriously as a driver of cultural and economic development.  <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">C) Law, Regulation &amp; Framework Conditions<\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Goal:<\/strong> Uniform and future-proof rules<\/p>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Standardization of Entertainment Tax Exemptions for Cultural Events in NRW  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW opposes the levying of entertainment tax on cultural events, as this tax structurally disadvantages curated venues in particular. Cultural events with artistic merit, curatorial work, educational and participatory effects, and significant local value creation should not be treated under a tax logic that historically addresses &#8220;entertainment&#8221; in the sense of gambling or sex work.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Precisely where municipalities welcome cultural offerings that manage without subsidies or even provide institutional funding themselves, the entertainment tax acts as a contradictory brake: it deprives small or medium-sized organizers of liquidity, increases economic risks, and weakens the fragile infrastructure of clubs, collectives, and committed individuals. Thus, it affects precisely those stakeholders who enable cultural diversity, talent development, and the night economy locally.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal must be to create better statewide framework conditions so that cultural venues and scenes can develop sustainably. Independent clubs and cultural venues generally do not receive institutional funding and are simultaneously burdened by levies such as the entertainment tax. These structural framework conditions complicate the long-term development of club and pop culture in North Rhine-Westphalia.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We demand a statewide exemption for cultural events in NRW, especially, but not exclusively, for curated venues.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Statewide Cultural Space Protection Concept  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location relies on vibrant cultural spaces \u2013 clubs, venues, and other places where music is created and experienced publicly. However, these spaces have been under increasing pressure for years:   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rising rents, densification, and conflicts of use lead to cultural venues being displaced, reduced in size, or closed entirely. Especially in urban areas, this results in a creeping loss of cultural infrastructure, which sustainably weakens the development of pop culture. Therefore, a clear cultural policy commitment from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to protect cultural spaces is needed. The goal must be to secure existing venues in the long term, defuse conflicts of use, and at the same time enable new spaces for pop culture.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many urban areas, there is also a lack of structured approaches to secure cultural spaces \u2013 especially for pop culture \u2013 in the long term. While some major cities already have functioning models, rural regions and smaller towns often lack resources, expertise, and networking opportunities. This gap not only endangers existing cultural spaces but also prevents the emergence of new places for cultural diversity and social cohesion.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A statewide approach can provide a remedy here: by systematically comparing best practices and developing target-group-specific consulting and qualification formats, the exchange between municipal administrations and the regional cultural scene is strengthened. This makes it possible to develop tailor-made local strategies that sustainably secure cultural spaces and promote the establishment of new projects. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details detail-sw is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Qualification Measures for Diversity and Inclusion  <\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Future-proof pop funding in North Rhine-Westphalia is based on diversity and inclusion as structural cornerstones. The state of NRW has already initiated impulses in this regard, which need to be further developed and opened up more specifically to the needs of pop culture. In particular, the independent scene, clubs, and festivals have not yet been systematically addressed, although there are special requirements for discrimination-sensitive, accessible, and inclusive work here.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We therefore suggest supplementing existing programs in a targeted manner and securing them permanently. Qualification, consulting, and further training offers are required, aimed at stakeholders in the pop ecosystem, systematically addressing topics such as accessible event planning, awareness, power-critical perspectives, fair participation, and diversity-oriented talent development. This is not only culturally relevant but also important with regard to securing skilled labor and the sustainable development of the cultural and creative industries.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW can highlight needs from the scene, mediate suitable experts and offers, and support networking and knowledge transfer to further develop qualification measures precisely and anchor them long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is to structurally strengthen existing approaches, effectively reduce discrimination, and enable equal participation. Diversity and inclusion are central prerequisites for a democratic, open, just, and future-proof society. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<h2 id=\"stellungnahmen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Studies<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW has commissioned several studies to examine the music ecosystem in North Rhine-Westphalia in its many facets, with a focus on pop music. This data foundation is intended to provide guidance to the various groups with whom PopBoard NRW interacts. The empirical studies were conducted in cooperation with various academic partners and cover five sub-areas of music and pop culture. All these studies are part of a large transdisciplinary investigation in the sense of an inventory of North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location, which has not been undertaken in the past.   <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overall Report<\/h3>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Status Quo <strong>Pop Landscape NRW<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This final report presents the core results of all individual investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/39905_Gesamtbericht_Status_Quo_Poplandschaft_NRW_A4_Einzelseiten.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Individual Studies<\/h3>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Pop Landscape NRW 2024<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim of the study &#8220;<strong>Pop Landscape NRW<\/strong>&#8221; is a current survey and presentation of the pop landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition to companies, revenues, and employees, it also covers industry-specific key figures, a differentiated assessment of the current situation, and possible funding and support measures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the key findings of the study is that participants view NRW as a versatile pop location with a high proportion of regional acts, a diversity of subcultures, and a large number of concert venues. All levels of the value chain are represented in NRW, characterized by a strong independent structure. However, the displacement of clubs and affordable rehearsal spaces, inadequate infrastructure (e.g., in the funding sector), and a lack of pioneering spirit limit development potential. NRW must more strongly recognize and promote its potential and relevance as Germany&#8217;s second-largest music industry location and the federal state with the highest club density. Therefore, the NRW pop music industry desires, for example, closer networking of the creative economy, initiatives for greater visibility, the protection of pop cultural spaces, and the strengthening of NRW as a training location.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PopBoard-NRW_Poplandschaft-NRW-2024_FINAL-3.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Musicians&#8217; Survey &#8220;Sounds like NRW&#8221;<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report &#8220;<strong>Sounds like NRW<\/strong>&#8221; presents the results on the situation of pop musicians in North Rhine-Westphalia, systematically and differentiatedly addressing the working and production conditions of pop musicians. It targets all (pop) musicians residing in North Rhine-Westphalia, regardless of age or career stage. The results presented here are based on data from 622 musicians who completed the extensive questionnaire between December 2022 and February 2023. The majority of respondents live in the larger and major cities of North Rhine-Westphalia; however, through targeted control, it was possible to recruit respondents from all five administrative districts and represent almost all 53 districts in the sample.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study analyzes, among other things, the activities of musicians (e.g., concerts, music lessons, and rehearsals), their economic and professional situation (e.g., income and fee levels), their networks (e.g., cooperation with other music industry stakeholders), the utilization of funding, and the assessment of NRW as a location for pop music musicians. Based on this data, this report evaluates the production, working, and structural framework conditions for pop musicians in NRW. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PopBoard-NRW_Bericht_Sounds-Like-NRW_Musikerinnen-Umfrage-2023_FINAL-6.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>P<\/strong>op Music Festivals: Insights into the NRW Festival Landscape<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study &#8220;<strong>Pop Music Festivals: Insights into the NRW Festival Landscape<\/strong>&#8221; is part of an extensive empirical investigation that follows the principle of an inventory of North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location. As part of the overall project, numerous addresses and contacts of music venues, festivals, labels, music publishers and distributors, music schools, and other educational institutions in the field of pop culture were researched. The results of this research have been visualized on the PopBoard NRW website as an interactive map since April 2022. Additionally, data from over 2500 musicians and bands in the pop music sector have been integrated into the map.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To gain detailed insights into the festival landscape of North Rhine-Westphalia, PopBoard NRW surveyed operators of pop music festivals on various topics in summer 2024. This report presents the results of the survey, which is based on two guiding questions: What is the situation of pop music festivals and their operators in North Rhine-Westphalia, and what measures can be taken to strengthen NRW as a location? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/39238_PopBoard_Abschlussbericht_Pop-Musikfestivals_A4_Einzelseiten_V2.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>M<\/strong>unicipal Pop Music Funding in NRW<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/><br\/>The study &#8220;<strong>Municipal Pop Music Funding in NRW<\/strong>&#8221; is part of a larger empirical investigation in the sense of an inventory of North Rhine-Westphalia as a pop location. This report presents the results of the investigation into municipal pop music funding in independent cities of North Rhine-Westphalia.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study is in the context of other projects commissioned by PopBoard NRW, which will be outlined chronologically. As part of the &#8220;Pop-Map NRW&#8221; project, addresses and contacts of music venues, festivals, labels, music publishers and distributors, music schools, and other educational institutions in the field of pop culture were researched. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PopBoard-NRW_Abschlussbericht_kommunale_Foerderung_A4_V4_Einzelseiten.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Rehearsal Room Infrastructure in NRW<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report &#8220;<strong>Rehearsal Room Infrastructure in NRW<\/strong>&#8221; presents the results on rehearsal rooms in larger rehearsal room centers in North Rhine-Westphalia. The study analyzes, among other things, the supply, rental prices, and technical equipment of rehearsal rooms. Based on this data, this report characterizes rehearsal rooms as central locations for the musical activity of pop musicians in North Rhine-Westphalia.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact that rehearsal rooms must be considered important places for local and supra-regional pop cultural activity is also shown by the many studies from numerous cities that have dealt with the topic in the recent past \u2013 for example, in Cologne (R\u00fchl 2019), Munich (Feierwerk Fachstelle Pop 2018), Berlin (Musicboard Berlin 2020), D\u00fcsseldorf (Kulturamt D\u00fcsseldorf 2010), or M\u00fcnster (muensterbandnetz 2014, 2023). The findings suggest that municipal rehearsal room offerings differ significantly and the market is heterogeneous.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Musicians rehearse partly in informally or privately rented rooms, partly in rooms of music institutions such as music schools or in rehearsal room centers. Only the latter are the focus of this statewide investigation. The guiding question of the present study is therefore: What characterizes the market for rehearsal rooms in the rehearsal room centers of North Rhine-Westphalia?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PopBoard-NRW_Abschlussbericht_Studie_zur_Proberaum_Infrastruktur_in_NRW_A4_Einzelseiten.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interim Reports<\/h3>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Cultural Spaces in North Rhine-Westphalia<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report &#8220;Cultural Spaces in North Rhine-Westphalia. Perspectives and Structures of Pop Cultural Work Locally&#8221; examines local pop structures and their societal relevance. When addressing this topic, the focus is on (volunteer)<br\/>associations and initiatives, as well as individual stakeholders, on their local pop cultural impact, and on making their commitment visible and strengthening it.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over two years, between September 2023 and September 2025, project staff from PopBoard NRW spoke with 42 pop culture stakeholders from 32 initiatives, associations, or similar structures. All conversations were recorded and transcribed, and the statements were clustered based on overarching themes and questions. In this report, the central statements are structured into four thematic areas: (1) Self-perception and Motivation, (2) Relationships and Networks, (3) Challenges and Needs, and (4) Funding and Financing.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PopBoardNRW_Zwischenbericht_KulturelleRaeume_20260606_FINAL_.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<h2 id=\"studien\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Statements<\/h2>\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>PopBoard NRW Statement on GEMA Cultural Funding<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PopBoard NRW and its shareholders welcome GEMA&#8217;s 2025 reform initiative. Culture is more than tradition; culture is constantly evolving. Remuneration models and funding must respond to social and cultural developments, making continuous adjustments absolutely necessary.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/250422_PopBoard-NRW_Stellungnahme-GEMA-Kulturfoerderung_FINAL.pdf\">To the PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Themen und Positionen PopBoard NRW sees itself as a central platform for developing cultural policy positions and unified advocacy for pop culture in North Rhine-Westphalia. It strengthens exchange, networking, and knowledge transfer between scene stakeholders and politicaldecision-makers. It highlights structural deficits, calls for better framework conditions, and develops sustainable solutions together with politicians and the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":548,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-553","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=553"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":583,"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/553\/revisions\/583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popboard.nrw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}