Organizer Information
Künstlerhaus Bethanien is an internationally renowned contemporary art institution and residency center based in Berlin-Kreuzberg. With more than 50 years of history, Künstlerhaus Bethanien is one of the oldest and most established artist residency programs of its kind. Its International Studio Programme brings artists from around the world to Berlin to develop new work, deepen their artistic practices, and engage with the city’s contemporary art ecosystem. Each year, approximately 40 international artists participate in the program through a combination of institutional partnerships, nominations, and independent funding arrangements.
The institution emphasizes artistic experimentation, international exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and engagement with current contemporary-art discourses. Residents benefit from individualized support, interaction with other artists, connections to the Berlin art scene, Open Studios, studio visits, and opportunities to present their work publicly.
This opportunity is particularly relevant for artists who do not have access to one of Künstlerhaus Bethanien's established international partner organizations. The institution explicitly accepts direct applications from artists worldwide who can demonstrate a strong artistic practice and a well-defined reason for wanting to undertake a residency in Berlin.
Title & Description
International Studio Programme – Direct Application
Künstlerhaus Bethanien invites international artists to apply directly for a residency within its International Studio Programme. The residency is designed to provide artists with dedicated time, space, and institutional support to develop their artistic practice and pursue a specific project or area of research in Berlin.
Applicants should present a strong and reflective artistic practice, together with a clear proposal or focus for their intended stay. The institution is interested in artists who engage with contemporary art discourses and who are willing to participate actively in the Künstlerhaus Bethanien community and the wider Berlin art scene.
Residencies are generally expected to last 6–12 months, although the precise duration depends on studio availability and the proposed project. The minimum stated residency period is three months.
An important feature of the direct-application route is that Künstlerhaus Bethanien does not necessarily provide the residency funding itself. Instead, if an artist's proposal is considered compatible with its curatorial and thematic direction, the institution may issue a Letter of Interest and a detailed cost breakdown. These documents can then be used by the artist when applying to an external international funding body for financial support.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Interdisciplinary Art
- Installation
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Photography
- Video Art
- Digital Art
- Performance
- Experimental Art
- Research-based Art
- Other contemporary artistic disciplines
Note: The program does not restrict direct applicants to a single artistic medium. It emphasizes the quality and development of the artistic practice rather than a specific medium. Künstlerhaus Bethanien describes its program as supporting diversity across artistic disciplines and career stages.
Eligibility
The opportunity is international and is open to artists who are not necessarily affiliated with one of Künstlerhaus Bethanien's permanent partner institutions. Applicants should demonstrate:
- A strong and reflective artistic practice.
- A clear project, research question, or artistic focus for their proposed time in Berlin.
- Engagement with current discourses in contemporary art.
- A willingness to participate in the Künstlerhaus Bethanien community.
- An interest in engaging with Berlin's local contemporary-art scene.
- A relevant artistic CV and recent portfolio.
Künstlerhaus Bethanien states that it is committed to diversity in terms of background, artistic discipline, and career stage. The published requirements do not specify a particular nationality, age limit, or requirement to be an emerging artist.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin.
- Dedicated time and space for artistic development.
- Individualized practical and artistic support.
- Opportunities to connect with Berlin's contemporary art community.
- Participation in the Künstlerhaus Bethanien artist community.
- Opportunities for Open Studios and public presentations.
- Studio visits with professionals and art practitioners.
- Potential opportunities to exhibit work at the institution.
- International networking and professional exchange.
- A Letter of Interest from Künstlerhaus Bethanien, where the proposal fits its curatorial and thematic direction.
- A detailed cost breakdown that can support applications for external residency funding.
The residency itself should therefore not be interpreted as an automatically funded grant. The direct-application process can instead help an artist secure institutional support for a subsequent application to an external funding organization.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Applicants should submit their materials by email to Valeria Schulte-Fischedick, who is responsible for the International Studio Programme. Application email: schultef@bethanien.de
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
- Residency Duration: Typically 6–12 months, with a minimum duration of 3 months.
Location
Berlin, Germany
Additional Details
This opportunity has an important distinction from a conventional open-call residency: the direct application does not necessarily constitute an application for a fully funded residency. Instead, artists can approach Künstlerhaus Bethanien independently and, if their project fits the institution's artistic and thematic direction, potentially receive institutional documentation supporting an application to an external funding body.
Künstlerhaus Bethanien maintains long-term relationships with numerous international institutions, including arts councils and cultural organizations in countries such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Cyprus, and others. These organizations may operate their own residency calls and nominate or select artists for placements at Bethanien.
For artists without an appropriate partner institution, the direct application route is therefore particularly significant. Applicants should ideally identify a realistic external funding source before applying, since the application explicitly asks for the name of the international funding body they intend to approach.
The institution also emphasizes active participation in the Berlin art scene rather than treating the residency solely as private studio time. Its International Studio Programme provides opportunities for Open Studios, professional studio visits, exhibitions, public events, and interaction with other international residents.