Organizer Information
The Agency for International Museum Cooperation (Museumsagentur) is a German organization funded by the German Federal Foreign Office that promotes international collaboration between museums, exhibition venues, and memorial sites. The agency supports projects that strengthen global cultural dialogue, encourage professional knowledge exchange, and increase the international visibility of German museums. Through grant programmes, networking initiatives, and collaborative partnerships, the agency helps museums address contemporary social, cultural, and professional challenges while fostering sustainable international cooperation. Its funding initiatives emphasize equal partnerships, intercultural dialogue, innovation in museum practice, and the development of long-term international relationships that can lead to exhibitions, research collaborations, and public engagement projects.
Title & Description
“Engage in dialogues” Programme 2027
Engage in Dialogues is an international funding programme designed to support collaborative exchange between museums and cultural institutions in Germany and partner organizations around the world. Rather than funding exhibitions themselves, the programme finances dialogue-based activities that help institutions build strong international partnerships capable of developing future collaborative projects.
The programme encourages museums to broaden perspectives, exchange professional expertise, and explore innovative approaches to museum practice through workshops, working meetings, training sessions, and other collaborative formats. These activities are intended to create spaces for critical reflection on current issues affecting museums, collections, exhibitions, cultural heritage, audience engagement, sustainability, and international cooperation.
Projects may take place in person, online, or through hybrid formats and should encourage equal participation among all partners. The programme welcomes both newly established collaborations and existing international partnerships seeking to deepen their cooperation. Successful projects are expected to generate long-term professional relationships and may eventually lead to joint exhibitions, public presentations, research initiatives, or other international museum collaborations.
The funding particularly values projects that introduce diverse viewpoints, strengthen intercultural dialogue, experiment with new methods of museum practice, and contribute to the international positioning of German museums. Cooperation may involve two or more institutions, provided that at least one eligible partner is based in Germany and one partner is located abroad.
The programme supports museums from all disciplines, exhibition venues with or without permanent collections, and memorial sites that are publicly accessible and primarily serve cultural and educational purposes rather than commercial interests. By encouraging collaborative learning and knowledge exchange, the programme seeks to help museums respond to global challenges while creating sustainable international networks that continue beyond the funded project period.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Agency during the project development stage if they have preliminary ideas and would like advice before submitting their proposal.
Categories
- Museum Practice
- Museums
- Cultural Heritage
- Curatorial Practice
- Exhibition Development
- Museum Education
- Cultural Exchange
- International Collaboration
- Professional Development
- Heritage & Memorial Studies
- Workshops
- Research
- Training
- Cultural Management
Eligibility
- Museums of all disciplines.
- Exhibition venues with or without collections.
- Memorial sites.
- Public or private nonprofit cultural institutions.
- Foundations, associations, public institutions, or comparable legal entities.
- Institutions must be publicly accessible and not primarily profit-oriented.
- Applications from individuals are not eligible.
- Projects must involve:
- At least one partner institution in Germany.
- At least one partner institution outside Germany.
- Either the German or international partner may submit the application.
- Partnerships involving multiple institutions are welcome.
- New collaborations and established partnerships are both eligible.
- Projects must not have already started before the funding decision.
International participation is therefore encouraged, provided the partnership includes an eligible German institution.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected projects receive project funding ranging between €5,000 and €25,000.
Eligible expenses include:
- International travel costs.
- Accommodation expenses.
- Workshop and meeting costs.
- Venue rental.
- Catering during project activities.
- Fees for moderators, trainers, and external experts.
- Translation and interpretation services.
- Publicity and communication activities.
- Documentation and publication costs.
- Visa expenses.
- Required vaccinations.
- Project-related insurance.
- Carbon offset costs for unavoidable flights.
Beyond financial support, participants benefit from:
- International professional networking.
- Knowledge exchange with museum professionals worldwide.
- Long-term institutional partnerships.
- Development of collaborative exhibition concepts.
- Increased international visibility.
- Opportunities for future joint exhibitions and cultural projects.
- Recognition through publication of selected projects by the Agency.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
- Funding Decision Notification: November 2026
- Funding Period: 1 January 2027 – 30 September 2027
- Final Report Due: Within six weeks after project completion
Location
Germany
Additional Details
- Funding supports dialogue and exchange activities—not exhibition production or exhibition installations.
- Personnel costs, construction work, acquisitions, exhibition construction, and exhibition openings are not eligible for funding.
- Projects should demonstrate long-term collaborative potential.
- Applications undergo a two-stage selection process consisting of:
- Administrative eligibility review.
- Evaluation by an independent international jury.
- Selection criteria include:
- Relevance to international museum practice.
- Long-term impact.
- Innovation.
- Feasibility.
- Quality of international collaboration.
- Successful applicants must submit:
- Narrative report.
- Financial report.
- Participant list.
- Photographic documentation.
- Ten percent of the awarded funding is released only after approval of the final report.
- All project publications must acknowledge support from the Agency for International Museum Cooperation and the German Federal Foreign Office using the required logo and credit line.
- Selected projects will be published on the Agency's website.
- Applicants with preliminary ideas are encouraged to consult the Agency before submitting a proposal.