Organizer Information
The Bureau des arts visuels (B·AV) is the visual arts office of the Institut français d’Allemagne, based at the French Embassy in Berlin. Founded in 1996, it promotes contemporary French visual art and supports connections between the French and German art scenes. The Bureau works with artists, galleries, museums, art associations, curators and other art professionals, and provides funding, networking and project-development support. Its Project Funding program is supported by the Institut français and the French Ministry of Culture.
Title & Description
Project Funding – Bureau des Arts Visuels / Institut français Germany
Project Funding (Projektförderung) supports exhibitions and projects in Germany that present and disseminate the work of French visual artists or visual artists living in France. Priority is given to monographic exhibitions of emerging artists organized by institutions with national or international recognition in the professional art world. Only projects involving living/active artists are eligible.
The program also supports German commercial galleries presenting French or France-based contemporary visual artists, particularly for their first or second exhibition with an eligible artist.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Exhibition Projects
- Gallery Exhibitions
Eligibility
This is not a direct artist open call. Applications must be submitted by eligible German institutions or galleries.
For institutions, eligible applicants may include:
- Non-profit organizations such as associations or cooperatives
- Publicly operated institutions
- Companies or other legal entities, excluding freelancers
- Other legally constituted organizations, as specified in the application form
The project must involve a French visual artist or an artist living in France. Emerging artists and monographic exhibitions receive priority, and deceased artists are not eligible.
For galleries, applicants must be Germany-based legal entities, operate on a full-time basis, deal in contemporary visual art and regularly organize exhibitions in their premises and/or at art fairs. Artists already represented in the gallery's regular program are not eligible for this particular support.
Program Benefits & Awards
For institutions, grants range from €1,000 to €5,000 for solo or group exhibitions. The grant cannot exceed 50% of the project's total budget.
Eligible expenses include international and domestic travel, transportation, insurance, taxes and permits, artist fees, accommodation, per diems, technical rental and fees, exhibition materials, communications, publications and administrative costs.
For galleries, grants range from €1,000 to €2,000, also subject to the maximum 50% of the total project budget. Production and reception costs cannot be covered by the Bureau's funding.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
For projects beginning January–June 2027:
- Application deadline: 15 October 2026
- Selection announcement: By 5 November 2026
For projects beginning July–December 2027:
- Application deadline: 15 February 2027
- Selection announcement: By 2 March 2027
Location
Germany
Additional Details
The program is particularly relevant to German cultural institutions, museums, art associations and galleries seeking to present French or France-based contemporary artists. It is therefore important to distinguish this opportunity from an artist grant: individual artists cannot apply independently.
The Bureau emphasizes the international dissemination of French contemporary art and has supported projects involving institutions such as Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Museum Folkwang, Portikus Frankfurt and other recognized German art organizations.
Applicants should also note that the funding amount depends partly on the number of applications received during the year. The grant is intended as project support rather than full project financing.