Organizer Information
Kunstkredit Basel-Stadt, administered by the Department of Culture of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, has supported and promoted artistic production in Basel for more than 100 years. Its funding programmes are designed to strengthen the quality, visibility and development of professional artistic practice in the region. In 2026, the programme provides funding through Werkbeiträge (work grants) and Projektbeiträge (project grants), alongside initiatives such as the Basel Art Prize and acquisitions for the Kunstkredit collection.
Title & Description
Kunstkredit Basel-Stadt 2026
Kunstkredit Basel-Stadt 2026 supports professional artists with either individual Werkbeiträge aimed at artistic career development or Projektbeiträge supporting the development and production of new artistic works intended for public presentation.
Werkbeiträge are awarded through a two-stage selection process and provide CHF 20,000 per selected artist or collective. Selected artists are expected to present their recent work in a curated exhibition, provisionally planned for 2027.
Projektbeiträge support the development and production costs of artistic works or groups of works intended for presentation in exhibition spaces, biennials, festivals, public spaces or comparable professional contexts.
Categories
Visual Art and Contemporary Artistic Practices, with no general restriction on medium for Project Grants. Eligible practices may include conceptual art, performance and artists' books. However, video art, experimental and art films, and projects primarily using digital or interactive technologies must be submitted to the Fachausschuss Film und Medienkunst BS/BL instead.
Eligibility
The programme is open to professional artists and artist collectives with a connection to Basel-Stadt. This connection can be established by:
- Being a citizen of Basel-Stadt, including those living outside the canton with proof of citizenship rights.
- Having lived and been registered in Basel-Stadt or Basel-Landschaft for at least one year since 1 January 2025.
- Having a close connection between one's artistic work and Basel, demonstrated through at least three participations in exhibitions, events or artistic activities addressing a Basel audience during the previous five years.
Applicants may be formally trained or self-taught, but must regularly present their work in professional art spaces or institutions. Projects developed as part of a study programme are not eligible.
For Werkbeiträge, anyone who applied in 2025 may apply again from 2027 onward.
Program Benefits & Awards
The 2026 programme allocates CHF 255,000 in total for Werk- and Projektbeiträge.
- Werkbeitrag: CHF 20,000 per selected artist; the jury intends to support at least six artists.
- Projektbeitrag: Funding toward eligible production costs, with the grant normally covering a maximum of 50% of the production budget.
- Werkbeitrag recipients are expected to participate in a curated exhibition, provisionally in 2027.
- Project funding is paid in two instalments, subject to submission of a realisation plan and final report.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Deadline for Werkbeiträge prequalification and first Project Grant round: 16 March 2026
- Expected first Project Grant jury meeting: 27 May 2026
- Expected first Werkbeiträge jury round: 29 May 2026
- Deadline for the second Project Grant round: 12 October 2026
- Expected second Project Grant jury meeting: 19 November 2026
- Expected second Werkbeiträge jury round: 18 November 2026
- Kunstkredit annual exhibition at Kunsthalle Basel: 20 September–4 October 2026
Location
Basel, Switzerland
Additional Details
For Werkbeiträge, applicants submit a short biography, an informative dossier of up to 20 pages, an online form and optionally an artist statement. The jury selects approximately 12–16 artists for an atelier visit or personal discussion before the final decision.
For Projektbeiträge, applicants must provide a project description, confirmation from the institution or venue, a detailed budget and financing plan, and a biography/dossier. Projects must be realised within three years of receiving the grant. The same project cannot be submitted simultaneously to multiple Basel-Stadt or joint Basel cultural funding bodies.
The Basel Art Prize (CHF 20,000) is also part of the 2026 programme, but it is not open for applications; recipients are nominated by the Kunstkredit commission.