Organizer Information
The Stiftung Kunstfonds, a prominent German foundation dedicated to advancing contemporary fine arts, plays a pivotal role in nurturing artistic creation and its societal impact. Established to bridge the gap between innovative artistic processes and public engagement, it channels federal funding from the Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM), supported by the Deutscher Bundestag. In September 2025, funding allocations were notably increased, reflecting a strengthened commitment to cultural vitality. Over decades, Kunstfonds has empowered thousands of artists through diverse programs, emphasizing the transformative power of art to question, reflect, and provoke societal discourse. As a beacon for free expression, it fosters democracy by ensuring artists' voices resonate widely, making it a trusted, validated platform for emerging and established creators alike. This open call underscores its legacy of equitable support, prioritizing quality and innovation in visual arts dissemination.
Title & Description
Title: KUNSTFONDS_Publikation 2026 – Grant for Artistic Publications
This grant program invites visual artists to realize and publish their own individual works, amplifying the reach of contemporary fine arts in a rapidly evolving cultural landscape. Themed around art's independent societal contributions—whether participatory, reflective, stimulating, or provocative—the initiative funds analog or digital publications that must include a German-language edition to ensure accessibility within Germany and beyond. Artists will conceptualize and produce monographs, artist books, or digital formats that document, expand, or innovate upon their practice, engaging themes like perception, identity, and ecological awareness. The purpose is to empower creators to disseminate their ideas autonomously, fostering deeper public dialogue and strengthening art's role in democratic processes. Through this, participants not only archive their contributions but also challenge conventional narratives, creating lasting artifacts that witness and comment on contemporary life.
Categories
- Visual Arts (including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and digital media)
- Artist Publications (analog formats like books or catalogs; digital formats like e-books or interactive PDFs)
- Fine Arts Documentation and Conceptual Works (focusing on self-initiated projects tied to artistic output)
Eligibility
Open exclusively to individual visual artists or artist duos with a main residence in Germany; applicants must not be enrolled in formal education during the project implementation period. Freelance status is implied through artistic CV requirements. No age restrictions apply, welcoming emerging and established creators alike. International artists are ineligible unless they hold primary German residency. Exclusions include those who received or applied for funding in 2025 from related Kunstfonds programs (e.g., Stipendium, SoloProjekt), recent jury members of these programs, or Stiftung Kunstfonds employees. Applicants must demonstrate sound financial management and the capacity to substantiate fund usage, ensuring a commitment to ethical and transparent project execution.
Program Benefits & Awards
Awardees receive up to €24,000 in project-specific subsidies, covering essential production costs such as graphic design, image editing, printing, and material expenses deemed necessary and reasonable. Honoraria align with BKM minimum guidelines, informed by professional associations, with up to 30% allocatable to self-performed labor via self-declaration and proof of transfer. An own contribution (Eigenanteil) of at least 10% is required, which may incorporate sponsorships, donations, or co-financing. Funds support the full lifecycle from contract signing (earliest March 1, 2026) to completion by March 31, 2028, disbursed according to a detailed cost plan. Additional gains include enhanced visibility through a published work in German, jury validation of artistic merit, and networking within Germany's vibrant arts ecosystem. Ecological incentives encourage sustainable practices, like reusable materials, amplifying the grant's role in responsible cultural production and long-term career advancement.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
All materials must be submitted in German and include:
- Personal details for the applicant or duo (name, address, contact information), plus a GbR agreement with representation authorization for duos (using the provided template).
- Proof of German main residence (e.g., ID card with address or passport combined with a current registration certificate).
- Artistic CV spanning the last 10 years, detailing education, exhibitions, and freelance activities.
- Comprehensive project description outlining goals, thematic alignment, and implementation timeline.
- Visual portfolio: High-resolution JPG images of recent artistic works, accompanied by a PDF project dossier.
- Balanced cost and financing plan in Excel format (using the official template), including the required 10% Eigenanteil.
Submissions must be complete and digital; incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Artists are encouraged to highlight innovative publication formats and ecological considerations to strengthen their proposals.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 January 2026
- Notification Date: Expected in February 2026, following jury deliberation
- Project Start: 1 March 2026
- Project Completion: No later than 31 March 2028
Location
Germany
Additional Details
The selection process is overseen by the Stiftung Kunstfonds Kuratorium, an expert jury employing democratic voting to evaluate artistic quality and feasibility. Funded projects necessitate a dedicated project account for transparent tracking of income and expenses, with disbursements tied to the approved cost plan and usable within six weeks of receipt. Proof of usage—comprising a final report, financial statements, and receipts (originals available upon request)—is mandatory; failure to submit may require full repayment. Artists may apply to only one Kunstfonds program every two years. Publications must be individual endeavors by the funded artist(s), appearing in German to broaden impact. Prior project initiation is possible with approval but not recommended. Overfunding is prohibited, and ecological practices (e.g., low-resource printing) are strongly favored. Full guidelines, including templates, are available on the site; funding remains subject to annual budgets until December 31, 2028. This program not only catalyzes publication but also embeds artists within a supportive network, ensuring their works endure as vital cultural contributions.