Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater (BDAT)
Founded in 1892, the "Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater e.V." ("Association of German Amateur Theaters")[1] represents German amateur theatricals on a national and international level in the arts, in culture, in politics and in society at large. The actions of BDAT are based on 2,500 theater ensembles of all generations, which have joined through 18 member associations. All these theatres create over 6.000 performances a year reaching over 7 Mio. spectators.
The promotion and recognition of civic engagement, the further development of the artistic quality of amateur theater, a wide range of services as well as exchange and dialogue are of particular importance. The BDAT engages in sponsoring, networking and organizing festivals, training courses and theater encounters. The BDAT is driven by fostering the common idea of "Theater with everyone and for everyone".
History
The BDAT originates in the founding of the "Verband der Privat-Theater-Vereine Deutschlands" ("Union of private theatre associations in Germany") on 27 August 1892 on the occasion of the 100 anniversary of the theatre society Urania in Berlin. From 1893 on the "Verband" published the "Privat-Bühne" as the official journal of the union. In 1920 the union is dissolved and newly founded as "Reichsbund für Volksbühnenspiele" ("Reichsbund for Popular Stage Plays") indicating a tendency towards nationalist traditions of amateur theatre as a folklore practice. Consequently, "Reichsbund für Volksbühnenspiele" seamlessly integrates into the Nazi organization of "Reichsverband Deutsche Bühne" in 1933. After the Second World War, the allied forces dissolves the "Reichsbund für Volksbühnenspiele, a re-constitution of the association happens then in 1951 under the name of "Bund deutscher Volksbühnenspieler" ("Association of Popular Theatre Players") representing the West German amateur theatricals. In 1970 the association is re-named into "Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater e.V." (BDAT). In 1990, the "Amateurtheatreverband der DDR" (ATV) is founded as a GDR counterpart. After the German reunification in 1991, amateur associations of the East German federal states join the BDAT.