Organizer Information
The Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt is the Berlin Senate Department responsible for supporting the city’s cultural sector, artists, independent initiatives, and creative organisations. Through its funding programmes, the department invests in artistic production, cultural participation, international exchange, and the development of Berlin’s independent arts scene. The “Weltoffenes Berlin” Fellowship Programme is part of this wider cultural funding framework and is designed to support professional artists who have left, or wish to leave, their previous countries of residence because of political circumstances that threaten their safety or make it difficult for them to continue their professional artistic practice.
The programme operates through partnerships between Berlin-based cultural organisations and individual artists. Rather than artists applying independently for the funding, eligible cultural actors in Berlin apply as hosts and develop a fellowship in cooperation with an eligible artist.
Title & Description
Weltoffenes Berlin Fellowship Programme 2027
The Weltoffenes Berlin Fellowship Programme 2027 supports artistic cooperation between Berlin-based cultural organisations and professional artists whose previous countries of residence have become unsafe or professionally restrictive due to political conditions.
The programme aims to help participating artists establish or continue an independent professional artistic practice in Berlin. Fellowships can last for up to one year and should combine artistic work with activities that help the Fellow build a sustainable professional perspective, depending on their individual needs.
The proposed fellowship must be based on a meaningful collaboration between the Berlin-based host and the Fellow. The host is expected to integrate the artist into its professional structures and support the development of a joint artistic or creative project.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Theatre
- Dance
- Literature
- Writing
- Film
- Media Art
- Photography
- Interdisciplinary Practice, and other professional artistic and cultural practices.
Eligibility
Applications must be submitted by Berlin-based cultural actors, such as cultural venues, initiatives, associations, organisations, and civil-law partnerships (GbRs). Individual applicants cannot apply as hosts.
The proposed Fellows must be professional artists who have left or wish to leave their previous country of residence because:
- they face personal threats, political persecution, or armed conflict; or
- political conditions, repression, intimidation, or the loss of professional opportunities make it impossible or extremely difficult to continue their artistic practice.
Eligible Fellows may include artists with relevant residence or protection statuses in Germany, including recognised asylum seekers, individuals currently in the asylum process, and migrants with certain humanitarian residence permits.
A lawful residence status in Berlin must be in place by the beginning of the fellowship.
Students enrolled at a university or higher-education institution are not eligible as Fellows. Artists who have already graduated from a German university or higher-education institution and have subsequently lived predominantly in Germany are also excluded.
Professional artists should be able to demonstrate relevant artistic education and/or previous professional artistic activity.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected fellows can receive funding of up to €2,500 per month for a maximum period of one year.
At least €2,000 per month must be paid to the Fellow through the host organisation, for example as a scholarship, fee, remuneration, or other contractual payment.
Up to €500 per month may be allocated to project-related expenses.
In addition to financial support, the fellowship is intended to provide professional integration, artistic collaboration, and individually tailored support that helps the Fellow develop sustainable career opportunities within Berlin’s cultural sector.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted electronically by an eligible Berlin-based host organisation.
The host must select “Spartenoffene Förderungen” in the funding category section of the online application system and upload all required documents, including information about the host, the proposed fellowship, a financial plan, proof of the host’s Berlin location, and the Fellow’s completed application form.
The application link is available through the official programme page and the Berlin cultural funding application portal.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 September 2026
- Fellowship Year: 2027
- Fellowship Duration: Up to 12 months.
Location
Berlin, Germany
Additional Details
Only complete and formally valid applications will be considered. Missing or incorrectly submitted documents cannot be added after the deadline, and the cultural administration will not contact applicants to request missing materials.
Hosts are advised to prepare all required documents in advance and pay close attention to page limits, file sizes, file formats, and naming requirements, as exceeding these requirements can result in formal exclusion.
If the selected Fellow requires a visa, the appropriate residence and visa arrangements must be secured before the fellowship begins. Artists entering Germany on a Schengen Visa may generally need to return to their country of residence and apply for an appropriate national visa before starting the fellowship.