stART.up

stART.up in Hamburg is aimed at young artists, musicians, and cultural professionals who wish to establish a freelance career immediately after completing their artistic university degree. The one-year work grant provides monthly funding of up to €1,400, optionally supplemented by a child allowance of €300. In addition to the financial support, the program includes a comprehensive curriculum of seminars, workshops, lecture series, and individual coaching. This is designed to impart economic, communicative, and legal knowledge to enable the grantees to build a sustainable, independent career. During the funding period, participants develop a project plan in which a concrete artistic idea is developed and a concept for implementation is formulated.

The funding extends over twelve months and is open to private individuals residing in Hamburg who can already demonstrate initial professional experience in the artistic field. Selection criteria include artistic excellence, the quality of the submitted documents, a convincing interest in the offered curriculum, as well as a high level of self-reflection and willingness for social exchange. Applications are submitted annually in a standardized process between January 15 and February 15 via the online portal. The initiative aims to support young talents both ideationally and financially and to provide them with space for artistic development, so that a stable freelance foundation is established and medium-term follow-up funding or subsequent projects become possible.