Stiftung Niedersachsen

The Stiftung Niedersachsen is the cultural foundation of the federal state of Lower Saxony, headquartered at the Künstlerhaus Hannover. It was established in 1987 on the initiative of the then Prime Minister Ernst Albrecht and supports non-profit projects in culture, art, education, and science. With an annual funding volume of around five million euros, it is one of the largest cultural sponsors in Lower Saxony. The foundation's capital amounts to approximately 57 million euros, supplemented by art objects and collections valued at around eight million euros. Each year, the foundation supports about 200 projects in the fields of music, literature, art & museums, theater & dance, socio-culture, as well as education & science, and initiates its own funding programs and awards, including the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition, the Spectrum International Photography Prize, and the Vital Village program for rural areas.

As the cultural foundation of the state, the Stiftung Niedersachsen is committed to the common good. It shapes perspectives on cultural action through dialogue and supports projects open to innovation. The foundation promotes critical reflections of a diverse society and regards sustainability as a fundamental principle. Quality, artistic excellence, and relevance at the local, regional, and state-wide levels form the basis of its funding decisions.

The target group of the Stiftung Niedersachsen consists of non-profit institutions and actors based in Lower Saxony. This includes associations, foundations, cultural institutions, municipalities, as well as independent artists and cultural projects. Initiatives and organizations from the fields of music, literature, art & museums, theater & dance, socio-culture, as well as education & science are supported, provided they set cultural impulses throughout the entire state through high conceptual quality and social relevance.