Faces in HELLERAU - Susanna Rentsch, #1 - 2026

In the “Faces” series, we introduce people who work in front of or behind the scenes at HELLERAU to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that our guests feel at home.

How long have you been working at Hellerau and what are your tasks?

I have been working at HELLERAU since February 2018 and am responsible for contract management. Specifically, I take care of the artist contracts for guest performances, workshops, co-productions and residencies. There are also contracts in the area of audience development, internal city contracts, data processing contracts and maintenance contracts. From this perspective, I actually work on a wide range of contracts, because apart from the personnel contracts, I handle all of them. In 2025, that was more than 300.

What specifically do you handle in terms of artists' contracts?

The most common contracts at HELLERAU are the guest performance contracts, which define the collaboration with the various companies. These guest performance contracts include the exact time and schedule of rehearsals and performances, technical requirements, fees and accommodation for the artists and provisions for unforeseen events such as illness or weather-related cancellations. In contrast, co-production contracts are usually less extensive. They simply stipulate how HELLERAU will contribute to the production as an institution, whether financially, in terms of space or personnel.

Can you briefly explain what a co-production is?

A co-production is a piece that is still being developed. Artists or companies come to us with an idea and we offer them financial, spatial and curatorial support for the development of the production.

What challenges have you overcome in your work?

When working with artists and companies, there are always “tough nuts” that need to be cracked. Political circumstances are a particular hurdle for international productions - for example, when visas may not be approved in time or the decision is only made at short notice. In such cases, it is necessary to draw up flexible contracts and adapt agreements. In addition, as HELLERAU is a municipal organisation, we have to coordinate closely with the tax office, which can lead to delays and complications. Overall, this requires a lot of communication and coordination - but we tackle these tasks together.

What do you particularly like about HELLERAU?

I am always impressed by the passion with which various colleagues put their heart and soul into individual projects at HELLERAU and fight through every challenge. I can't help but think of the joint tower construction project “BABEL” at the “Dance Together” 2024 festival or the catalogue for the “Black Box White Cube XR” symposium. It was a lengthy process with countless door knockers and many challenges that had to be organised in the background before this finished booklet was ready. I'm always fascinated by these complex processes, the fact that my colleagues keep at it and the projects ultimately succeed.

And what do you wish HELLERAU for the future?

The other day, when I was visiting the new east wing with two colleagues, I looked into the rainy Kulturgarten. I thought to myself: “Oh HELLERAU, you are a place of hidden splendor”.

We are not as pompous as the Semperoper. But here there is the splendour of togetherness and so many little cogs that you don't see, but each one is valuable. HELLERAU is open - and for me it should open its doors even further so that people can arrive here, meet and encounter each other. HELLERAU is unique - as a place with options and potential to try things out.