Martin Roth-Initiative

Temporary Relocation for Artists at Risk

+ + + Application Period for Funding in Germany 15.01. - 20.02.2026 + + +

The Martin Roth-Initiative (MRI) facilitates temporary relocation for at-risk artists and cultural practitioners in Germany or in their regions of origin. The cultural scene and civil-society structures in the host countries play a central role during these residencies, supporting scholarship-holders and promoting their professional development.

The project was launched by the ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen and the Goethe-Institut in response to the global decline of social freedoms.

Click here for Martin Roth-Initiative website

Information on the programme

Who can apply?

Artists and cultural practitioners around the world who

are actively committed to working towards an open society, peace, freedom and democracy
experience threats or persecution on account of their commitment or for other reasons
do not have a safe place to stay
have the language skills required to cooperate with a host institution
have a proven track record of artistic or cultural work and can demonstrate its social relevance.

Host organisations may be cultural institutions and collectives (such as museums, theatres, festivals etc.) or socially relevant organisations that can provide temporary support for scholarship-holders and their ongoing artistic/cultural work as well as the necessary level of supervision.

Martin Roth-Initiative

What is subsidised?

Funding in regions of origin

Funding by the Martin Roth-Initiative in regions of origin offers temporary residencies for at-risk artists and cultural practitioners in their regions of origin, either with support from host organisations or through direct funding.

Funding in Germany

This funding from the Martin Roth-Initiative enables cultural institutions (host organisations) in Germany to take in at-risk artists and cultural practitioners for a temporary residency, enabling them to continue their work in a safe environment.

What does the funding include?

Funding in the different programme lines may include:

a monthly scholarship,
individual support payments (language courses, training, networking measures etc. as required),
financial support for additional personnel at the host organisation to an appropriate extent,
accompanying project consultation by the MRI as well as networking measures and exchange of experience with other host organisations and scholarship-holders.

How does the application process work?

The application processes for funding in regions of origin can be found here.
Applications for funding in Germany must be submitted by host organisations and artists and cultural practitioners.
An application comprises the application form completed by the host organisation and an application form completed by the artists and cultural practitioners.
The application deadlines are to be found here.
Following a formal document check, applications are selected by an independent committee.
The selection is made according to the following criteria:
- profile and situation of the artists and cultural practitioners
- quality of the project proposal (are the project objectives and measures reasonable and appropriate/realistic and coherent?)
- ability and capacity of the host organisation to implement the project (e.g. administration and project management, safety, assistance and instruction of the guest artist, see also requirements to be met by host organisations)
- consideration of follow-up opportunities
- gender and diversity aspects
Note: The MRI is not an emergency programme and can neither grant immediate support nor speed up application or visa processes. There is no legal entitlement to a grant from the MRI.