Artists’ Contacts is an annual grant programme run by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen. It supports in-person cooperation in contemporary visual art, architecture, design, photography and media art between Germany and eligible DAC countries.
Supported formats include exhibitions in Germany, residencies, workshops, research or preparatory trips, and international professional events. Projects must emphasize artistic collaboration and knowledge exchange rather than commercial sales.
Benefits & funding
- The grant can reimburse approved flights, ground travel, accommodation and visa costs under Germany’s federal travel-expense rules.
- For travellers to Germany, it can also cover overseas health insurance and a €28 daily food allowance; per diem support is limited to 14 days.
- For travel from Germany, food allowances follow the applicable federal destination rates; family travel and care costs are excluded.
- Only costs approved in writing and incurred after approval are reimbursable, although an advance of up to 80% of the award may be requested.
Eligibility
- Artists, curators, art educators, art theorists, architects, designers and eligible cultural institutions may apply for non-commercial projects in contemporary visual art, architecture, design, photography or media art.
- For travel to Germany, participating practitioners must originate from an eligible DAC country and currently live in that same country.
- For travel to an eligible DAC country, German practitioners must reside in Germany; non-German practitioners must have lived in Germany for at least five years, remain resident there and may not travel to their country of origin.
- Applicants normally need an invitation from a non-commercial cultural, exhibition or residency institution that makes a significant contribution; research trips do not require an invitation.
- Students are ineligible, and commercial settings, artwork sales, performing arts and exhibitions abroad are not supported through this programme.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Request access through the Artists’ Contacts online application system and use the emailed link to create an application.
- 2Complete the form in German or English and upload the host invitation and description, applicant CVs, visual material, and three current airfare quotations.
- 3Submit online, then print and sign the application and mail the original to ifa in Stuttgart; the postmark must be no later than 30 September 2026.
- 4Wait for the written decision, which ifa plans to send in February 2027.
Program timeline
Application deadline by postmark
30 September 2026
Written funding decisions
February 2027
Eligible project period begins
March 2027
Eligible project period ends
November 2027