Social Support – Social Welfare Foundation of VG Bild-Kunst

The Social Welfare Foundation of VG Bild-Kunst supports creators in the visual sector who are facing financial hardship, incapacity to work, or old age. Funding is provided to visual artists, photographers, illustrators, designers, and filmmakers who have been members of VG Bild-Kunst for at least two years, as well as their surviving spouses or registered life partners. Grants are awarded as one-time or ongoing subsidies and are based on the revenues of VG Bild-Kunst as well as donations and bequests. There is no legal entitlement; however, the institution guarantees an unbureaucratic assessment of needs within three funds: Professional Group I (fine arts), Professional Group II (photography, illustration, design), and Professional Group III (film). Funding applications may be submitted at any time.

For the application, the fully completed application form, proof of personal financial circumstances, and documents demonstrating the need for support—such as medical certificates, accident reports, or cost estimates—are required. Volunteer members of VG Bild-Kunst and the Foundation are excluded from funding. Additional assistance is only granted if it is not offset against statutory social benefits. The awarding bodies decide based on the submitted documents, taking into account the financial situation of the applicants. Through continuous funding opportunities, individual emergencies can be bridged in the short term and longer-term needs reliably alleviated.