Their activities and events are supported by foundations, the public sector, broadcasters and sponsors.
The academy awards prizes including the Gertrud-Eysoldt-Ring and the Förderpreis für Regie.
Erwin Piscator was the first president of the academy, which was conceived as workshop and for education, but the teaching aspect was not realised.
In 1990, a sixth event presented works by Heiner Müller at the Theater am Turm [de] in Frankfurt, followed in 2001 by a seventh Experimenta.
When Frankfurt withdrew its financial support, the academy moved to Bensheim, where the prizes Gertrud-Eysoldt-Ring and the Förderpreis für Regie [de] had already been awarded.