Literary Fellowships of the Prussian Maritime Trading Foundation

The Prussian Maritime Trading Foundation awards two annual scholarships of €1,500 per month (a total of €18,000) each year to German-speaking writers residing primarily in Berlin, enabling them to continue, begin, or complete planned literary works. Projects in the fields of drama, prose, and poetry are supported. The decisive selection criterion is the outstanding literary quality of the submitted work samples. The funding period is 12 months; an extension is not envisaged. Works of children’s and youth literature are excluded. The decision on the grants will be made in December 2026, with disbursement starting the following year.

Applicants must prove their residence in Berlin and submit at least one publication in drama, prose, or poetry. The application process is exclusively online; required documents include, among others, an exposé (max. 1 page), a text sample related to the project (max. 20 pages), a work sample from a published book (max. 50 pages), as well as a cover letter with a legally valid signature. Application materials must be uploaded as PDF files (max. 25 MB). The next submission deadline is July 15, 2026. A carefully compiled portfolio increases the chances of being considered by the jury and expanding the artistic freedom for literary creation.