Artists’ Contacts 2026: Apply for ifa International Arts and Cultural Exchange Funding for Projects in 2027

The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) Artists’ Contacts programme 2026 is offering funding for international artistic and cultural exchange projects connecting Germany with countries of the Global South and countries in transition. The programme is designed to strengthen international collaboration, encourage knowledge exchange, support artistic mobility and create sustainable networks among artists and cultural practitioners across borders.

Eligible applicants can seek support for a wide range of international visual arts and cultural activities, including working visits, research trips, exhibitions, artist-in-residence programmes, workshops, lectures, conferences, performances and other international exchange initiatives.

The application deadline is 30 September 2026, while supported projects are scheduled to take place between March and November 2027. Applicants who are interested in using art and cultural exchange to promote diversity, democratic values, human dignity, social cohesion and environmental responsibility are particularly encouraged to consider the programme.

About the ifa Artists’ Contacts Programme

The Artists’ Contacts programme is an international funding initiative of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) that supports artistic and cultural exchange between Germany and countries in the Global South and countries in transition.

Rather than treating international mobility simply as an opportunity to travel, the programme places emphasis on meaningful cooperation, mutual learning and the creation of long-term relationships between cultural practitioners and institutions.

The programme is particularly relevant to artists and cultural professionals who want to work across national and cultural boundaries, develop collaborative artistic projects, undertake research, participate in international exhibitions or residencies, and build sustainable professional networks.

According to ifa, international artistic encounters can create spaces for dialogue, encourage different perspectives and contribute to mutual understanding. The programme therefore recognises art and culture as important tools for strengthening democratic values, social participation and responsible engagement with global challenges.

What Is the Main Focus of Artists’ Contacts 2026?

The central focus of the programme is intercultural exchange and networking in the visual arts.

The funding supports projects that place collaboration and knowledge exchange at the heart of international artistic engagement. Applicants are therefore encouraged to develop projects that go beyond one-time travel or isolated activities and instead demonstrate the potential to establish lasting relationships and professional networks.

The programme is especially interested in projects that contribute to:

• International artistic and cultural cooperation
• Knowledge exchange between cultural practitioners
• Sustainable international networks
• Diversity and inclusion
• Democratic values
• Human dignity
• Social cohesion
• Social participation
• Environmental sustainability
• Regional connections
• Long-term international partnerships

Projects should demonstrate strong artistic quality while also reflecting the broader values promoted by ifa.

Who Can Benefit From the Artists’ Contacts Funding?

The programme is open to a broad range of professionals and organisations working in the arts and cultural sector.

Potential beneficiaries include:

• Artists
• Curators
• Art mediators and art educators
• Art theorists
• Architects
• Designers
• Photographers
• Media artists
• Institutions working within the arts and cultural sector

The programme is therefore not limited to one particular artistic discipline. Instead, it provides opportunities for a variety of visual arts and cultural practitioners to participate in international exchange and collaborative projects.

Applicants should, however, ensure that their proposed project meets the programme’s artistic, collaborative and international eligibility requirements.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

A major feature of the Artists’ Contacts programme is its focus on international cooperation between Germany and countries included on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of developing and transition countries.

Applications can be submitted from countries on the DAC list for projects taking place in Germany. Applications from Germany can also be submitted for projects taking place in eligible countries on the DAC list.

This means that the programme provides a two-way framework for cultural exchange:

1. Artists and cultural practitioners from eligible DAC countries can participate in projects in Germany.
2. Artists and cultural practitioners based in Germany can undertake eligible projects in countries appearing on the DAC list.

Applicants should consult the current official list of eligible countries before preparing their applications because eligibility depends on the country’s inclusion on the relevant DAC list.

Importantly, eligibility is not determined by race or ethnicity. The programme’s geographic eligibility is based on the relevant DAC country classification and the applicant’s location or residence in accordance with the programme rules.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should carefully review the programme requirements before submitting a proposal. The following conditions are particularly important.

1. The Project Must Demonstrate High Artistic Quality

The planned project should have a strong artistic or cultural concept and demonstrate a high level of artistic quality.

Applicants should clearly communicate what they intend to achieve, why the project is artistically significant and how the proposed international collaboration contributes to the development of the work or professional practice.

2. Projects Should Reflect ifa’s Values

In addition to artistic quality, ifa considers broader values when assessing applications.

These include:

• Social relevance
• Diversity
• Environmental sustainability
• Regional connections
• International cooperation
• Social cohesion
• Democratic values

Applicants should therefore avoid presenting international travel as an end in itself. A stronger application should explain the artistic, cultural and social value of the proposed exchange.

3. International Artistic Cooperation Is Required

The project must involve artistic and content-based cooperation between Germany and eligible countries in transition or countries of the Global South listed under the DAC framework.

The international dimension of the project is therefore fundamental to the programme.

4. Special Residence Requirements Apply to Projects in Germany

For projects involving travel to Germany, the participating artistic and cultural workers from eligible developing or transition countries must come from a country on the DAC list and must currently live there.

This requirement is important for applicants who may have nationality from an eligible country but currently reside elsewhere.

5. Additional Residence Requirement for Projects Outside Germany

For projects taking place in an eligible DAC country, artistic and cultural workers who do not have German citizenship must have lived in Germany for at least five years.

The programme does not fund trips to the applicant’s country of origin under this arrangement.

6. An Institutional Invitation Is Generally Required

Applicants normally need an invitation from a non-commercial cultural or exhibition organisation or an artist-in-residence establishment.

The organisation should not be a profit-oriented gallery.

An invitation is not required for research trips.

The foreign institution issuing the invitation must also provide significant financial and/or other services as part of the project.

7. Commercial Projects Are Not Eligible

The project must not be organised within a commercial context.

For example, projects connected to commercial art fairs are not eligible. The sale of artworks also excludes a project from funding.

This means applicants should clearly distinguish an artistic or cultural exchange project from a commercial activity.

8. Students Cannot Apply

Projects by students are not eligible for Artists’ Contacts funding.

ifa recommends that students seeking relevant international academic opportunities instead explore programmes offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

What Activities Can the Funding Support?

Artists’ Contacts funding can support a wide range of artistic and cultural exchange activities.

Eligible activities can include:

• Exhibitions
• Performances
• Artist-in-residence programmes
• Workshops
• Preparatory trips
• Research trips
• Working visits
• International symposia
• Conferences
• Lectures
• Other international exchange initiatives

This broad range of activities makes the programme relevant to artists and cultural professionals at different stages of an international project.

A research-oriented applicant, for example, may use the opportunity to undertake an international research trip, while another applicant may use the programme to participate in an exhibition, workshop, residency or international cultural event.

What Costs Does the Programme Cover?

The Artists’ Contacts programme provides support for travel and accommodation costs in accordance with the applicable Federal Travel Expenses Act.

For artistic and cultural workers travelling from countries in transition and developing countries to participate in eligible projects, ifa can cover a number of expenses.

These may include:

• Flight expenses
• Travel expenses
• Accommodation costs
• Visa costs
• Overseas health insurance
• Daily food allowance of EUR 28 per day

The programme does not cover travel and care expenses for family members.

For Germans and artistic and cultural workers who have lived in Germany for at least five years and are travelling to eligible countries outside Germany, support can include the following:

• Flight expenses
• Travel expenses
• Accommodation costs
• Visa costs
• Applicable daily food allowances

Again, family members’ travel and care costs cannot be covered by the programme.

Environmental Sustainability Is an Important Consideration

The programme recognises that international cultural exchange often requires travel, which can have an environmental impact.

For this reason, ifa encourages applicants to consider environmental sustainability from the earliest stages of project planning.

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Consider the environmental impact of international travel.
• Prioritise sustainable forms of mobility where practical.
• Reduce the carbon footprint of their projects.
• Incorporate environmental considerations into project planning.
• Demonstrate responsible use of environmental resources.

Environmental sustainability is also one of the aspects considered when assessing the overall quality and relevance of proposed projects.

How to Apply for the Artists’ Contacts Programme

The application process involves four main steps.

Step 1: Request Access to the Online Application

Applicants must first request access through the official Artists’ Contacts application system.

Step 2: Open the Link Sent by Email

After requesting access, applicants receive an email containing a link through which they can create their online application.

Step 3: Complete the Application

Applicants should complete all required sections of the application.

The system allows applicants to save their work and return to it later, meaning the application does not necessarily have to be completed in a single session.

Step 4: Submit the Online Application and Send the Signed Hard Copy

After submitting the online application, applicants must print it, sign it and send the hard copy by post to:

ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen
Artists’ Contacts
Charlottenplatz 17
D-70173 Stuttgart
Germany

Applicants should allow sufficient time for the physical application to reach the organisation because the postmark deadline applies.

APPLY HERE

Documents Required for the Application

Applicants should prepare the required supporting documents before submitting their application.

The official programme lists the following key documents:

Invitation Letter

Applicants generally need an invitation from the relevant foreign cultural or exhibition organisation, unless the application concerns a research trip.

Description of the Host Institution

Applicants should provide information describing the cultural or exhibition institution involved in the project.

Curriculum Vitae

CVs should be submitted for all applicants for whom funding is being requested.

The CVs should help demonstrate the applicants’ artistic or professional backgrounds and their suitability for the proposed project.

Visual Material

Applicants should provide visual material relating to the proposed project and/or examples of previous artistic work.

This is particularly important because the programme evaluates the artistic quality of applications.

Airfare Quotations

Applicants must provide three quotations for airfare based on current fares.

Applicants should therefore obtain current and credible flight quotations when preparing the budget and supporting documentation.

Sound and video works can be provided as links in the upload section of the application system.

Application Deadline for Artists’ Contacts 2026

The official application deadline is 30 September 2026.

The funding is for projects taking place between March and November 2027.

Applicants should pay close attention to the deadline because ifa states that no additional applications for projects taking place in 2027 will be accepted after 30 September 2026.

The date of the postmark applies, and applications sent after the deadline will not be considered.

Important Deadline Information

Application deadline: 30 September 2026
Eligible project period: March to November 2027
Notification of decision: February 2027

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day because the process involves both an online submission and a signed hard-copy application sent by post.

Visit HERE for more information about the Artists’ Contacts Programme 2026.

What Happens After You Apply?

Once applications have been submitted, they are assessed through the programme’s annual selection process.

An expert jury meets once a year to decide which projects will receive funding.

Funding decisions and the amount awarded depend on the available IFA budget and the applications received.

Applicants will receive written notification of acceptance or rejection in February 2027.

Applicants should also be aware of several important conditions surrounding the decision-making process:

• No reasons for funding or rejection decisions will be provided.
• Rejected applications cannot be resubmitted.
• There is no legal recourse against the decision.
• Additional materials submitted with an application will not be returned.
• Projects that begin before approval cannot receive retrospective funding.
• Expenses incurred before approval cannot be reimbursed retrospectively.

These conditions make it particularly important for applicants to wait for formal approval before beginning activities for which they expect to receive funding.

How Can Applicants Strengthen Their Proposals?

Although funding decisions are made by an expert jury and no outcome can be guaranteed, applicants can improve the clarity and competitiveness of their proposals by presenting a well-developed project.

A strong proposal should clearly explain:

1. What the project is about – Describe the artistic or cultural concept in clear terms.
2. Why international cooperation is necessary – Explain why collaboration across Germany and the partner country adds value.
3. Who is involved—Introduce the artists, cultural practitioners and host institutions.
4. What the project will achieve – Define the expected artistic and cultural outcomes.
5. How knowledge will be exchanged – Explain how participants will learn from one another.
6. How the project can create lasting relationships—Demonstrate potential for continued cooperation after the funded activity.
7. How the project reflects IFA’s values—Address diversity, social relevance, environmental sustainability and regional connections where appropriate.
8. How the budget will be used – Ensure requested travel-related costs are clearly justified.
9. Why the proposed activities are appropriate – Link each activity to the project’s objectives.
10. How environmental impacts will be considered – Explain efforts to make international mobility as sustainable as reasonably possible.

Applicants should also ensure that all required supporting documents are complete and consistent with the project proposal.

Why Artists and Cultural Practitioners Should Consider This Opportunity

International collaboration can be expensive, particularly when it involves air travel, accommodation, visas and other international mobility costs.

The Artists’ Contacts programme can reduce some of these financial barriers and make international artistic cooperation more accessible.

The opportunity can be particularly valuable for professionals seeking to:

• Expand their international networks.
• Collaborate with artists and cultural organisations across borders.
• Develop new artistic projects.
• Participate in exhibitions or performances.
• Undertake international research.
• Join artist-in-residence programmes.
• Organise workshops and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Participate in international conferences, symposia and lectures.
• Establish long-term institutional partnerships.
• Explore new cultural perspectives.
• Connect artistic practice with social and environmental issues.

Beyond the immediate financial assistance, the programme’s emphasis on sustainable international networks means that applicants can frame their projects around longer-term professional and cultural relationships rather than short-term travel alone.

Important Restrictions Applicants Should Know

Before applying, prospective applicants should carefully consider the programme’s restrictions.

The following are particularly important:

• Commercial projects are not eligible.
• Art fairs and similar commercial activities do not qualify.
• Selling artworks excludes funding.
• Student projects are not eligible.
• Trips to an applicant’s country of origin are not permitted in the relevant projects involving non-German citizens residing in Germany.
• Projects that have already started cannot receive retrospective funding.
• Expenses incurred before approval cannot be reimbursed retrospectively.
• Family members’ travel and care expenses are not covered.
• Applicants cannot resubmit rejected applications.
• Funding is subject to the available budget.
• Approved funding represents the maximum amount payable subject to the relevant rules and receipts.
• Applicants should comply with the applicable German Federal Budget Code requirements when spending programme funds.

A Global Opportunity for Visual Arts and Cultural Exchange

The Artists’ Contacts programme stands out because it combines artistic mobility with broader objectives around international cooperation and intercultural understanding.

For artists and cultural practitioners in eligible countries, the programme can provide an avenue to establish professional connections in Germany. For Germany-based practitioners, it can facilitate collaborations and exchange projects in eligible countries of the Global South and countries in transition.

The programme’s approach reflects a wider understanding of the role of culture in international relations. Artistic exchange can provide opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet, share ideas, challenge assumptions and develop new approaches to common challenges.

The emphasis on democracy, diversity, human dignity, social cohesion and environmental responsibility also means that projects with wider cultural or social relevance may be particularly well aligned with the programme’s objectives.

Where to Apply

Interested applicants should use the official ifa Artists’ Contacts application system and carefully review the programme’s eligibility conditions and supporting documents before submitting their applications.

The official application process requires applicants to request access, create their online application, complete and submit it electronically, and then print, sign and send the application by post to ifa in Stuttgart.

Application deadline: 30 September 2026

Project period: March to November 2027

Conclusion

The ifa Artists’ Contacts 2026 funding programme presents an important opportunity for artists, curators, art mediators, art theorists, architects, designers and cultural institutions seeking to develop meaningful international collaborations between Germany and eligible countries in the Global South and countries in transition.

Through support for travel, accommodation, visas, insurance and daily allowances, the programme can help reduce some of the financial barriers associated with international artistic mobility. It also supports a wide range of activities, from exhibitions and performances to research trips, workshops, artist residencies, lectures, conferences and other forms of cultural exchange.

However, applicants should pay close attention to the eligibility requirements. Projects must demonstrate high artistic quality, involve genuine international cooperation and generally have a non-commercial cultural context. Residence requirements also apply depending on whether the project takes place in Germany or an eligible DAC country, while student projects are specifically excluded.

With the 30 September 2026 deadline approaching, eligible artists and cultural practitioners should begin preparing their project concept, invitation documentation, CVs, artistic materials, budget information and airfare quotations as early as possible.

Ultimately, the Artists’ Contacts programme is more than a travel funding opportunity. Its central objective is to encourage sustained international cooperation, knowledge exchange and cultural dialogue. For applicants with strong artistic projects and a clear commitment to meaningful intercultural collaboration, it offers an opportunity to build connections that can extend well beyond the funded project period.

For more global Grant opportunities, visit OFY HERE.