Organizer Information

The Bezirksamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg von Berlin, through its Department of Finance, Personnel, Economy, Culture, Diversity, and Climate, is responsible for supporting cultural initiatives in the district. The Fachbereich Kultur und Geschichte (Department of Culture and History) oversees funding programs for artistic, cultural, and socio-cultural projects. The department provides financial support, guidance, and mentoring for local artists, free groups, socio-cultural centers, project spaces, and museums to encourage vibrant, community-oriented cultural activities. Funding decisions are guided by a jury composed of representatives from multiple artistic disciplines, emphasizing the quality, relevance, and social impact of submitted projects.

Title & Description

Kulturförderungen zum 1. Mai 2026 – Funding for Artistic & Socio-Cultural Projects in Berlin
This funding program offers grants to artists, collectives, and cultural institutions in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg to support projects taking place on April 30 or May 1, 2026. Eligible projects include Music, Performing Arts, Urban Life, and Socio-Cultural initiatives that reflect on the social and historical significance of May 1. The program encourages decentralized and diverse cultural offerings throughout the district. Projects located in specific areas—Oranienstraße, Oranienplatz, Mariannenstraße, Mariannenplatz, and the surroundings of Görlitzer Park—are excluded. The funding process is merit-based, guided by artistic quality, and intended for initiatives that have not yet started. Grants provide support for artistic and cultural-pedagogical activities, with remuneration capped at €40 per hour or based on recommended honoraria by Berlin’s Senate Administration for Culture and Social Cohesion.

Categories

Music, Performance, Urban Life, Socio-Culture, Cultural Education

Eligibility

  • International and local artists, collectives, and free groups.
  • Cultural institutions, project spaces, museums, and socio-cultural centers within the district.
  • Projects already receiving institutional support from the state/federal government or already started are not eligible.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Funding of up to €5,000 per project.
  • Total available funds: €90,000.
  • Support for artistic, cultural-pedagogical, and socio-cultural projects.
  • Grants can cover project staff fees, materials, and small-scale infrastructure costs.
  • Mentoring and guidance from Fachbereich Kultur und Geschichte staff, including Laura Voigt and Jana Braun.
  • Recognition of project excellence via jury evaluation.

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

  • Completed online application form.
  • Project description, including short biographies, past projects, visual references, and relevant links.
  • Financial plan, rounded to the nearest €100.
  • Confirmation from the venue (if applicable).
  • For public space projects, prior permissions are not required at the application stage.
  • Optional supporting documents (photos, references, examples of previous work).

How to Apply?

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 15 February 2026
  • Residency / Project Dates: 30 April – 1 May 2026
  • Notification of Funding Decisions: Calendar Week 11, 2026

Location

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany

Additional Details

  • Funding is awarded based on jury recommendations; no legal entitlement exists.
  • Grants are subject to budget availability and formal approval via official notice.
  • Funding supports projects with socially relevant or historically reflective content connected to May Day.
  • Templates for the financial plan and guidance documents are available on the program website.
  • Priority is given to innovative, inclusive, and decentralized cultural projects across the district.

Website Link: https://kultur-friedrichshain-kreuzberg.de/foerderfonds/kultur-am-1-mai/