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. A list of the artists funded under the previous year’s program is included in the annual report of ifa (in German).

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. Application documents will not be returned. Any additional material submitted will be returned only if this does not entail undue effort.
5. No reasons are given for decisions made. Rejected applications cannot be re-submitted. The judges' decision is final.
6. 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.
7. Funding cannot be approved for exhibitions that are already running.
8. Financial support cannot be provided by both ifa and the German Foreign Office or the Goethe-Institute for reasons of budgetary law.
9. After the commencement of a project, expenditure from funds can only be made if in accordance with general Federal budgetary principles (see www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bho).

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)

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

Territory of Intimacy// Transcaucasian identification
21.10. – 27.10.2009
Museum of Modern Art, Yerevan, Armenien
www.acsl.am/~

THERE IS NO I IN TEAM
15.10. – 17.10.2009
Program e.V., Berlin
www.berlin-china-bridge.com/~

Der Banyanbaum
Kunst & Begegnung
11.09. – 01.11.2009
Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin Neukölln
www.körnerpark.de

Kunst der Begegnung 3
23.08. – 24.08.2009
Workshop Theaterhaus Hildesheim
28.08. – 29.08.2009
Liveperformances in der Gebläsehalle
www.ideenstiftung.org

Dissolving absolute Structures
Mona Vatamanu/ Florin Tudor
28.06. – 02.08.2009
Kunstverein Ludwigsburg
www.kunstverein-ludwigsburg.de