Day of Acting / Tag der Schauspielkunst – October 11

Today marks the Day of Acting, initiated in 2019 by the German Federal Association of Actors (BFFS). It's a day to recognize not just the art, but the artists - and the realities they navigate.

When BFFS created this day, they wanted to start an honest conversation. Not just about the magic that happens on stage (though that's real), but about what it takes to sustain a life in theater and film. The conversations we have in dressing rooms about contracts, the calculations we make between rent and workshop fees, the careful balance of artistic growth and economic survival.

These aren't complaints- they're realities that shape how art gets made. And acknowledging them is the first step toward improving them.

Every performer knows the particular exhaustion after a good rehearsal - emptied out but somehow fuller. The strange pride in nailing a difficult scene after weeks of not getting it. The moment when an ensemble breathes together and something shifts in the room.

But you also know the other side. The self-funded training that never stops. The survival jobs that keep you afloat between contracts. The constant hustle that runs parallel to the artistic work. The explaining to family that yes, this is a real profession, even when it doesn't always feel financially stable.

What strikes us at NIPAI, working with artists from around the world, is how universal these experiences are. Whether you trained in Berlin, Bangkok, or Buenos Aires, certain things remain constant: the dedication to craft despite uncertain conditions, the community that forms among performers, the stubborn belief that this work matters.

The push for better conditions - fair wages, social protections, diverse representation - isn't separate from the art. It's what makes the art possible long-term. When organizations like BFFS advocate for structural changes, they're not asking for special treatment. They're working to make this profession sustainable for the next generation.

Every actor who continues to show up, to train, to audition, to perform, is part of this larger effort. You're keeping something vital alive - not just theater as an art form, but as a practice, a community, a way of understanding what it means to be human.

How NIPAI Contributes

At our institute, we've always believed that supporting actors means more than just appreciation - it means creating accessible opportunities for professional development. The financial reality of continuous training is something we hear about constantly from the artists we work with. Quality workshops shouldn't be a luxury reserved for the few who can afford them.

This year, in recognition of the Day of Acting and the ongoing challenges performers navigate, we want to do our small part. We're opening a limited number of spots in two upcoming programs at reduced rates - not as a marketing gesture, but as a concrete way to support professional development when budgets are tight.

Through October 18, code ACTOR2025 provides 50% reduction for:

International Physical Theatre Laboratory (IPTL)

December 13-22, 2025; Laubegg Castle. Austria

An intensive exploration of physical theater methodology

Program details

Text, Voice & Physical Action

January 5-9, 2026; Berlin, Germany

Integrated training connecting text work with physical practice

Information here

To apply: Complete our application form and include code ACTOR2025 in the promo field. We review all applications to ensure the program is right for each participant. The reduced rate simply makes participation more feasible for those who are accepted.

Today and Beyond

To those performing tonight: "break a leg!". To those between projects: the work continues even in the waiting. To those teaching the next generation: thank you for passing it forward. To those considering leaving the profession: whatever you decide, your contributions have mattered.

The Day of Acting reminds us that this isn't a solitary path, even when it feels that way. We're part of a continuum - actors who came before, who work alongside us now, who will come after.

Your work has value. Your struggles are seen. Your persistence matters.

Keep going.

—The NIPAI Team