Initiative Neue Musik Berlin

The Initiative Neue Musik Berlin e.V. (INM) is a Berlin-based cultural-political association and funding institution for the free contemporary music scene. Founded in 1991, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it functions as the umbrella organisation (Dachverband) representing the interests of professional freelance musicians, ensembles and actors in Berlin's contemporary music scene vis-à-vis politics and administration. It is an important part of Berlin's cultural landscape and, as the body behind the field notes programme, contributes to strengthening the visibility and professionalisation of the contemporary music scene. The INM's core activities include cultural-political advocacy, the annual awarding of project funds in the field of New Music and sound art on behalf of the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, and the administration of rehearsal spaces for freelance artists and groups. It manages the "Vivaldisaal" and, in coordination with the Senate Department and Kulturraum GmbH, handles usage requests within the "Kultur Räume Kontingente" programme for the Wilhelmsaue; since January 2026 a rehearsal room at Breitenbachstr. 34-35 in Wedding has also been available to ensembles of the scene. The INM also runs the field notes programme, which has been the central information and advisory service for Berlin's contemporary music scene since 2016. Membership includes institutions such as the Berlin Akademie der Künste, the Berlin Society for New Music (BGNM), the concert series "Unerhörte Musik" and the German Composers' Association. The INM is part of DACH Musik Berlin, an alliance of music associations alongside IG Jazz Berlin e.V., Vereinigung Alte Musik Berlin e.V. (VAM Berlin) and Zeitgenössisches Musiktheater Berlin e.V. (ZMB). A jury elected by the membership for two-year terms decides on the allocation of project funds; jury members may but need not be INM members. The INM states its aim to better reflect social diversity and to reduce (structural) discrimination in all its activities.

The Initiative Neue Musik Berlin e.V. (INM) was founded in 1991, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, as a cultural-political forum for actors in New Music in Berlin. It was founded and financed by the Berlin Senate cultural administration. Its purpose was to promote projects and events, advise musicians and ensembles, and connect actors of the local cultural scene: composers, ensembles, organisers, politicians, business representatives and journalists. Members of the INM include, among others, the Berlin Akademie der Künste, the Berlin Society for New Music (BGNM), the concert series "Unerhörte Musik" and the German Composers' Association. Since its founding, the INM has worked to secure and improve the working and production conditions of freelance professional musicians and groups. An independent jury determined by the membership (not necessarily INM members) annually selects the most interesting projects from a large number of submissions. From 2000 to 2008, more than 250 projects were funded, taking place at over 80 different locations in Berlin, including the Konzerthaus, the Philharmonie, the Akademie der Künste, HAU 1 and the Podewils'sches Palais, as well as industrial sites and public squares, on the radio, in schools, museums, theatres, clubs, cinemas and studios. Over the years, the INM has expanded its activities. It awards project funds in the field of New Music and sound art annually on behalf of the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. It administers two well-equipped rehearsal rooms for freelance artists and groups. As the body behind the field notes programme, which has been the central information and advisory service for Berlin's contemporary music scene since 2016, it contributes to strengthening the visibility and professionalisation of the scene. In coordination with the Senate Department and Kulturraum GmbH, the INM manages the "Vivaldisaal" and handles usage requests within the "Kultur Räume Kontingente" programme for the Wilhelmsaue; since January 2026 a rehearsal room at Breitenbachstr. 34-35 in Wedding has also been available. The INM is part of DACH Musik Berlin, an alliance of music associations together with IG Jazz Berlin e.V., Vereinigung Alte Musik Berlin e.V. (VAM Berlin) and Zeitgenössisches Musiktheater Berlin e.V. (ZMB), which jointly advocates for cultural-political concerns. In all its activities, the INM aims to better reflect social diversity and to reduce (structural) discrimination.

• 2026

  New rehearsal room at Breitenbachstr. 34-35 in Wedding becomes available to ensembles.

• 2025

  DACH Musik Berlin publishes demands on Classical:NEXT and on preserving the Wilhelmsaue ensemble rehearsal room.

• 2023

  DACH Musik Berlin publishes position papers on the Berliner Modell and minimum fees.

• 2016

  field notes programme established as the central information and advisory service for Berlin's contemporary music scene.

• 2000

  Start of a period (2000–2008) in which over 250 projects were funded at more than 80 locations in Berlin.

• 1991

  Initiative Neue Musik Berlin e.V. founded shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, founded and financed by the Berlin Senate cultural administration.

Umbrella association and funding institution for Berlin's free contemporary music scene, acting as intermediary between artists and cultural policy.

• Annual project funding for New Music and sound art

  Awarded on behalf of the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion; decided by a jury elected by the membership.

• field notes programme

  Central information and advisory service for Berlin's contemporary music scene since 2016.

• Rehearsal space administration

  Manages the Vivaldisaal and, since January 2026, a rehearsal room at Breitenbachstr. 34-35 in Wedding.

• Kultur Räume Kontingente (Wilhelmsaue)

  Handles usage requests in coordination with the Senate Department and Kulturraum GmbH.

1. 1initiative neue musik berlin e.V. | INM Berlininm-berlin.de
2. 2Über uns | INM Berlininm-berlin.de
3. 3Jury | INM Berlininm-berlin.de
4. 4DACH Musik Berlin | INM Berlininm-berlin.de
5. 5Initiative Neue Musik Berlinwikidata.org
6. 6Initiative Neue Musik Berlinde.wikipedia.org