Since 2020, the Society for Artistic Research in Germany (gkfd) is the umbrella organisation of the Berlin Artistic Research Grant Programme with funds provided by Berlin’s Senate Department for Culture and Europe.

The Grant Programme aims to strengthen artistic research in Berlin, as well as supporting the exchange between artists with research-based practices. In this way, it responds to the growing interest in artistic research and the increasing role of art in the production of knowledge and its transfer into society. Whereas in recent years PhD programmes for artists have been established at universities and art academies internationally, the Grant Programme aims to facilitate research in the arts beyond academic qualification programmes.

Every two years, grants are awarded to research projects from all artistic disciplines, as well as transdisciplinary projects. The Berlin Artistic Research Grant Programme is for individuals and groups whose work to date has featured prominently in the field of artistic research and who are interested in being part of a transdisciplinary approach to the underlying principles and ongoing unfolding of research-based practices in the arts.

The Grant Programme funds individual artistic research projects, as well as collaborations in the context of joint events. It fosters dialogue between those engaged in artistic research, promotes critical questioning of artistic research, its principles, procedures and forms of presentation, and supports the communication of artistic research to the public.

Target group

The grants are for those professionally engaged in artistic research who are pursuing a specific project or conducting basic research and who wish to actively contribute to the development of the field. Applications will be accepted from individuals and groups.

Scope of funding

The Berlin Artistic Research Grant Programme – under the umbrella of the Society for Artistic Research in Germany – awards thirteen grants to artists conducting research in the fields of fine art, film/video, literature, music, dance and theatre, as well as interdisciplinary projects. Each grant consists of an annual sum of 30,000 euros and will be paid out from January 2022 to December 2023 in monthly instalments (on condition that funds are approved by Berlin’s Senate). At least one grant will be reserved for basic research; this grant can also be awarded to individuals who are not trained artists but who conduct artistic research from the perspective, for example, of cultural studies or curating. Over the course of the two years, each recipient can claim an additional production budget. Funds are also available for joint activities such as workshops, lectures, exhibitions, performances or publications.

Conditions

All applicants

• have completed a degree in art in Germany or abroad or can document several years of professional research based activity in their field
• are known for their artistic work, have made contributions to the field of artistic research over a period of years, and can document this with examples of their work and in their artistic resume.
• are pursuing an artistic research project or basic research on artistic research
• seek to become actively involved in shaping the programme’s public events
• are not already receiving a stipend/scholarship from the State of Berlin for 2022/23
• live and work in Berlin (for groups, the majority of members should be Berlin-based)
• are not members of a university or other institute of higher education for the duration of the funding (for groups, the majority of members should not be members of a university).

Accessibility

Artists with disabilities who would prefer an alternative to the written application procedure, or who require support, should please contact us: register@kuenstlerischeforschung.berlin

Exclusion from participation

Applications will not be accepted from members of the jury, members of the executive board and advisory board of the Society for Artistic Research in Germany, or members of staff of Berlin’s Senate Department for Culture and Europe, nor from members of any such individual’s family.

Selection procedure

The recipients of grants will be will be selected in a two-stage jury process. All applicants will be informed of the results of the jury meeting by email in October 2021. The names of the artists and groups receiving grants will be made public.

Submission deadline
The submission deadline is on 20 August 2021, 6pm

Public information events
We are offering public information events where questions can be asked; both events will be conducted online in German and English:

22 July 2021, 6pm

9 August 2021, 4pm

Registration for information events
Please register at least 24 hours in advance in order to receive the Zoom link: register@kuenstlerischeforschung.berlin

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