AUFTAKT – Visual Arts Funding Program

The funding program of the Kunststiftung NRW offers diverse support opportunities to artists at the beginning of their careers as well as to independent art/off-spaces and small exhibition venues in North Rhine-Westphalia. Applicants with residence or professional ties to NRW can continuously apply for grants for artistic productions, publications, as well as research, international, and work scholarships. Eligible for funding are both private individuals and non-profit organizations, interest groups, other associations, and public institutions. Applications are submitted online via the application portal; basic documents required include a project description, a curriculum vitae, and a detailed financing plan.

The program sustainably strengthens the professionalization and networking of a vibrant visual arts scene in NRW. The decisive criteria are the quality and innovative content of the artistic projects, the sustainability of the format, the contribution to the art landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as the expected funding impact on professional development. Exemplary expenses supported include production costs, publication projects, and travel expenses for research or international scholarships. The approved measures enable long-term establishment and create impulses for regional and international cooperation. Interested artists and operators of small exhibition venues thus receive a tailored platform for realizing pioneering projects.