Organizer Information
The Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti Foundation is a legally dependent foundation of the City of Cologne, with roots tracing back to Dr. Hubert Dormagen, a Cologne physician and art collector who, upon his death in 1886, bequeathed his fortune to the city for the care of people with disabilities. His bequest led to the establishment of what became the Dr. Dormagen Foundation, and in 1926 a workshop building endowed by patron Anton Guffanti was added, later giving the combined foundation its current name. Today, the foundation supports the Municipal Center for the Disabled Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti in Cologne-Longerich, a residential facility for people with severe disabilities. Drawing on the proceeds of the foundation's assets, its Board of Trustees annually awards a scholarship to visual artists, guided by the principle of equal participation of people with and without disabilities in society as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Title & Description
Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti Fellowship 2027
The Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti Foundation's Board of Trustees annually awards a scholarship to visual artists to create opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in artistic activity. For 2027, the fellowship is open to artists working in the category "Drawing/Graphics." The selected artist develops an artistic idea for working with residents of the severely disabled home on the foundation's grounds, as well as members of other initiatives based at the site, including Treberhilfe, Aidshilfe, and der Hörlosen e.V. The work is expected to proceed free of pedagogical or therapeutic intervention, centered instead on artistic practice itself.
Theme
Drawing/Graphics — the 2027 fellowship category, focused on artistic engagement with residents of the Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti disabled care center and related on-site initiatives.
Categories
- Drawing
- Graphic
- Visual Arts
Eligibility
- Open to artists working in the "Drawing/Graphics" category for the 2027 cycle
- Applicants must work and reside in the Federal Republic of Germany
- The scholarship can only be awarded to the same artist once (previous scholarship holders cannot reapply)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total scholarship value of 10,000 euros
- 1,500 euros per month in stipend support for six months
- A one-time material cost subsidy of 1,000 euros
- A subsidy of up to 500 euros per month for accommodation or travel costs, for six months
- Free use of a studio space on the grounds of the Municipal Center for the Disabled Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti for the duration of the scholarship
- A final exhibition of the resulting works, held in the studio at the end of the scholarship, with costs borne by the foundation following consultation with the scholarship holder
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Full application uploaded via the online funding portal
- Artistic and professional career history (CV)
- Work samples/portfolio
- Project description and motivation, outlining the artistic idea for working with residents in terms of content and structure
- Links to a personal website or video platforms (e.g. Vimeo, YouTube) can be included in the uploaded files
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Recommended Job Shadowing/Site Visit: 28 July 2026, 3:00–4:30 PM (at the facility in Longerich, Cologne)
- Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
- Fellowship Period: April – September 2027 (six months)
Location
Städtisches Behindertenzentrum Dr. Dormagen-Guffanti, Lachemer Weg 22, Cologne-Longerich, Germany
Additional Details
- Applicants are encouraged to attend the job shadowing session on 28 July 2026 to gain insight into the studio and the institution's work from the current scholarship holder, Bine Schwarz
- Selection is made by a five-member jury composed of members of the Foundation's Board of Trustees and art experts; the jury's decision is final and not subject to legal recourse
- The foundation notes that although applicants must use the general City of Cologne funding portal, several standard fields and document requests in that portal do not apply to this scholarship and should be filled in as instructed or disregarded (e.g. entering "1.00" in irrelevant project-funding fields)