Artists' Contacts

The "Artists' Contacts" funding program supports working visits in and travel to Germany for contemporary artists from developing countries and countries in transition. There must be a foreign cultural policy interest in relation to these contacts. German artists are also to be offered travel subsidies enabling them to make contacts in developing countries and countries in transition. The financial support for these working visits is intended to promote cooperation between foreign and German artists within an international project framework.

Information
The following application details can also be downloaded as a PDF file.

Funding principles
1. Ifa can contribute to travel and subsistence expenses for artists travelling to Germany from developing countries and countries in transition.
2. German artists can also receive subsidies for their travel and subsistence costs to developing countries and countries in transition.
3. The applications are submitted to a panel of specialists. Funding decisions are made on the basis of the budget available to ifa and on the basis of other applications.
4. The committee meets twice a year (in spring and autumn). Applications submitted at short notice normally cannot be considered. The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen should be approached at least one year before the planned exhibition.
5. No reasons are given for decisions made. Rejected applications cannot be re-submitted. The judges' decision is final.
6. Funding cannot be approved for projects that are already running.
7. Projects by students can not be supported.
8. After the commencement of a project, expenditure from funds can only be made if in accordance with general Federal budgetary principles (see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bho).
9. Financial support cannot be provided by both ifa and the German Foreign Office or the Goethe-Institute for reasons of budgetary law.
10. Application documents will not be returned. Any additional material submitted will be returned only if this does not entail undue effort.

Funding conditions
1. A high level of artistic quality.
2. The project may not be realized in a commercial context (e.g. not in a private gallery).
3. The degree co-operation between German and foreign artists in terms of art and content is an important funding consideration.
4. Making an application implies acceptance of the funding principles and requirements set down in this document.

Application material required
1. A short but clear description of the exhibition project.
2. The applicant's CV and pictorial material (catalogues, photographs etc.) providing information about the artistic work. Illustrative material on CD or DVD cannot be considered.
3. A detailed, complete and objective cost evaluation and financial plan, broken down into expenditure and income. This must include:
a) overall costs;
b) travel and subsistence expenses (please submit three quotes on flight prices for comparison);
c) public subsidies, donations and sponsorship money, contributions from the exhibiting institution.

Application dates
Applications with all the requisite documentation must reach ifa by 31 January or by 15 August. The funding of projects for the second half of the current year will be decided in the spring meeting. The funding of projects for the following year will be decided in the autumn or fall meeting. Applications may be submitted in German and English.

Press and publicity work
The ifa logo will be sent to applicants electronically. It is to be used on all media (print media, internet etc.) relating to the funded project. Ifa publishes information about funded projects in its annual report and on its website. For this reason it is essential that ifa receives regular updates on the progression of the project. We also require a royalty-free image or illustration for publication.

Contact
Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen
Visual Arts Department
Mr. Friedolf Schiek
Charlottenplatz 17
D-70173 Stuttgart
Phone +49.(0)711.2225-170
Fax +49.(0)711.2225-194
schiek( at )ifa.de

Projects (a selection)

6th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art
11.06. – 08.08.2010
KW Institute for Contemporary Art and other places, Berlin
www.berlinbiennale.de
Photo: Nilbar Güreş. Unknown Sports, Performance
© Courtesy Nilbar Güreş

U(DYS)TOPIA
27.05. – 09.06.2010
Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Dresden
12.06. – 22.06.2010
Freies Museum, Berlin
01.10. – 29.10.2010
Neues Kunstforum, Köln
www.udystopia.com

Hella Gerlach, Roman Schramm
DIE FUGE – LA CUEVA DE CRISTAL
21.03. – 28.03.2010
Mark Morgan Perez Garage, Buenos Aires
www.ramona.org.ar/node/30971

Ai Weiwei
Barely Something
19.03. – 20.09.2010
Museum DKM, Galerie DKM, Duisburg
www.stiftung-dkm.de
© Stiftung DKM | Ai Weiwei