Stage swapped for lecture hall

What a coincidence! That's what Constanze Rückert and Britta Werksnis thought when they started the first classes of their Master's degree in Culture and Management at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in October and got to know each other. The professional backgrounds of the twelve students in their cohort are very different: they include art and cultural scientists, business economists and cultural managers. But the fact that there are two actresses among them is unusual.

Under normal circumstances, Constanze Rückert and Britta Werksnis would be on stage, rehearsing plays or preparing for future engagements. As freelancers, both are regularly engaged at various theaters throughout Germany. But like thousands of other artists, they currently have no performance opportunities, no engagements and no chance of earning money with their work.

Using the lockdown to study

Constanze Rückert's last engagement ended shortly before the first lockdown in spring. "At the time, I was in the process of finalizing everything for the next few months," says the 35-year-old. "But everything that was planned was canceled, and new things didn't come about because no theater could say what would happen next." That's why she quietly had the idea in the summer to use the time differently: to study.

Britta Werksnis was lucky enough to be able to work on a summer theater production in Rottweil, at least during the time when some theaters were able to open between lockdowns under coronavirus conditions. "But I don't have any engagements lined up at the moment," says the 33-year-old, "and I can't plan any either."

For her, however, the financial situation as a solo self-employed person has so far been less precarious than for Constanze Rückert, who is one of those actresses who are repeatedly employed on a short-term basis but do not have a permanent employer and therefore receive neither short-time working benefits nor support as a solo self-employed person. So far, however, she has managed to get by to some extent with savings and support from friends.

Good additional qualification for actors

Both actresses had previously considered studying culture and management alongside their careers. After all, they not only enjoy acting in plays, but also want to develop, organize and implement their own ideas and projects. "But I didn't have the confidence to do that before," says Britta Werksnis, "because I didn't have the tools to manage a project and put it on a stable footing." There are many artistic ideas, but they also have to be well organized and economically well thought out. "Because a loss-making business doesn't benefit anyone."

Constanze Rückert would also like to continue her education for this reason; she has also found that artists are often underestimated when they want to work as career changers in other areas of the cultural sector. "The Master's could be a good additional qualification for me." When the situation in the theaters didn't improve after the summer, she thought about studying again and said to herself: "It's now or never!"

From Stuttgart and Berlin to Görlitz

Britta Werksnis moved from Stuttgart to Görlitz for her studies. "I'm really happy to be able to live in a fixed place for longer," she says. Although she previously had an apartment in Stuttgart, she was mostly on the road and never at home due to her various engagements. Constanze Rückert lives in Berlin and has taken a second home in Görlitz for her studies.

There are various reasons why the two met here of all places. For Constanze Rückert, the city was the least far away from Berlin. "What's more, face-to-face teaching is important to me, especially in these times of limited contact with others. " Because the course in Görlitz is small, the distances are easy to maintain and most events take place on site.

For Britta Werksnis, the close practical relevance played a role, which other students had already praised at Görlitz University. "I come from a practical background, so it means a lot to me to be able to work practically during my studies. " The fact that the application deadlines were extended due to coronavirus also suited the two actresses.

Playing again as soon as possible

For Constanze Rückert and Britta Werksnis, studying is an opportunity to make the most of the lockdown. Completing it, even though the theaters will be open again, is a major goal for both of them. Only the first year requires a lot of presence in Görlitz, after that you can organize your studies well and do a lot of practical work, whether in the city or elsewhere.

"But I'm an actress first and foremost," says Constanze Rückert, "I want to act as soon as it's possible again and ideally use it to finance my studies." Britta Werksnis feels the same way. "I hope that the situation for the theaters eases soon and we can get back to work." She even already has ideas about performing in Görlitz, as far as Corona allows.

Text: Ines Eifler
The article was published on 25.11.2020 in the Sächsische Zeitung, local edition Görlitz.