Verband Saarländischer Amateurtheater e. V.

Founded in 1951, the Verband Saarländischer Amateurtheater e.V. [Association of Amateur Theatres of Saarland] nationally represents the German federal state of Saarland in the arts, in culture, in politics, and society at large.

Although the VSAT is Germany's smallest regional association for the performing arts, it has the highest percentage of theatre members in comparison. Among other affiliations, it is a member of the Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater (BDAT) [Association of German Amateur Theaters].

History

Originally, the VSAT was called Saarländischer Volksbühnenbund e.V. [Association of People’s Theatres of Saarland] and counted 38 members. It was founded on the 6th of October in 1951 in the Catholic Clubhouse in Völklingen.

Collaborations

Nowadays, the VSAT plays a key role in the national network coordinated by the State Academy for Music and Cultural Education in Ottweiler. Through its BDAT membership, the VSAT also participates in the Central European Committee (CEC) of the IATA/AITA, the Network of German-speaking Amateur Theatre Associations (AddA), as well as the International Theatre Institute (ITI).

Mission and Objectives

Many people make their first theatrical experience in amateur theatre, where a local and regional bond unites the ensemble and audience. The Verband Saarländischer Amateurtheater e.V. comprises over 5,000 volunteers, including around 70 theatre ensembles, many of which are children’s and youth drama groups.

The guiding principles of the VSAT are cultural diversity and civic engagement, which they call “Culture for All.” As a cultural association, VSAT’s mission extends beyond mere entertainment - it also embraces its aesthetic and socially critical functions by defining art, culture, and society as its core spheres of influence. Through engaging with contemporary social and political issues, it seeks to create spaces for intergenerational dialogue, including cultural and artistic exchange. On top of that, it fosters collaboration between amateur and professional theatres.

Considering social life as well as the individual’s cultural identity, it pursues the following objectives:

Elevate amateur theatre as a central force in the arts, culture, and society by improving its infrastructure.
Strengthen broad‑based cultural programming within amateur theatre and advocate for volunteers’ interests.
Promote theatrical and cultural exchange, expanding cooperation and networks with national and international associations in the performing arts.
Preserve and foster the diversity of theatrical expression, including regional languages and dialects.
Enhance the artistic quality of amateur theatre.

To reach these goals, the VSAT has made it its mission to:

Develop and implement projects around socially pertinent topics such as integration, tolerance, and intergenerational issues.
Organize and host national and international festivals and cultural encounters.
Provide professional training to its members and develop a statewide program offering aesthetic education for all target groups. Special emphasis is placed on nurturing new talent in the performing arts; the independent youth organisation Wildwuchs [Untamed Growth] underpins this effort.
Offer a comprehensive range of services to its members.

Weblink

Verband Saarländischer Amateurtheater e.V.. 2020. < https://amateurtheater-saar.de/leitbild/> (accessed July 6, 2025).