DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program — Fellowship

The DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program brings around twenty international artists and cultural practitioners to Berlin each year. It covers visual arts, film, literature, and music and sound, giving fellows time to pursue creative work without a production obligation.

Film, literature, and music and sound accept direct applications; visual artists enter only through nomination and specialist-jury selection. The next application period, for 2028 residencies, is scheduled to begin in November 2026.

Benefits & funding

Residencies last 12 months in visual arts, literature, and music and sound, and 6 months in film.
Fellows receive a monthly stipend for living expenses and rent, plus a furnished apartment.
The program covers scheduled economy travel and luggage expenses for the fellow and for a partner and children who stay in Berlin for the full residency.
Health, accident, and liability insurance is available when needed, with premiums deducted from stipend payments; optional German courses are also provided.

Eligibility

The program mainly targets established international artists with a developed voice and body of work, while the film field also seeks emerging directors; applicants still in school or just out of education are not considered, while doctoral students may apply.
No academic qualification or upper age limit is required.
Direct applications are accepted in film, literature, and music and sound; visual artists are nominated and cannot apply directly.
German nationals are generally excluded, but German nationals, including dual nationals, living abroad may apply after at least six years of primary residence in the country from which they apply.
People primarily resident in Germany are generally excluded unless they first registered there no more than 15 months before the application deadline; program alumni cannot reapply.
Film applicants should have premiered at least two feature films at international festivals; literature applicants need an outstanding body of work, with translation and exposure beyond their native-language community treated as a preference rather than a requirement.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

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Application process

1
Confirm the discipline-specific route: film, literature, and music and sound use the public application window, while visual arts is nomination-only.
2
During the application window, complete the personal-data form and use the personalized link sent by email to access the application form.
3
Upload one PDF of no more than 15 MB and identify three works for jury review, following the portfolio rules for the chosen discipline.
4
Complete both online steps; applications and supporting submissions are not accepted by email.

Program timeline

Most recent application deadline.
December 15, 2025
November 2026
Application period for 2028 residencies is scheduled to open; exact dates remain pending.
Application deadline is expected within the month; the exact date has not yet been announced.
December 2026
International specialist juries are expected to meet in Berlin.
March–May 2027
After the final jury meetings
Decisions are communicated.
January 1–May 31, 2028
Residencies may begin, with later starts possible in justified exceptional cases.