Sister Cities – Connecting Places | Goethe Institut
US cities partnered with German sister cities are invited to apply for up to $30,000 to collaboratively develop and implement an arts or culture project addressing common interests.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- 86 days left
- Entry fee
- Not listed - check the source
- Award
- $30,000
- Location
- US city (non-coastal) and German sister city
About
Overview
The Goethe-Institut, Sister Cities International, and Deutscher Städtetag invite small to medium-sized US cities and their German sister cities to apply for funding to collaboratively organize arts and culture projects addressing common interests.
Eligibility
- Small to medium-sized cities (population up to 750,000)
- US cities located in central, non-coastal regions
- Established German American sister city partnership
- Both cities willing to work with local arts and culture organizations throughout planning and implementation
Project Scope
Proposed projects must be collaboratively created and implemented by both sister cities with arts and culture partners. They should address current topics relevant to citizens of both cities, engage artists and creatives, include a round of activities in the US city in 2027, be public-facing with focus on younger audiences (up to approximately 35 years), and be environmentally sustainable with limited transatlantic travel.
Exclusions
- School exchange programs limited to school community
- Classic amateur choral, instrumental, or dance group exchanges
- Projects based solely on exchanging traditional Oktoberfest and German Christmas Market events (projects integrating innovative artistic events into traditional festivals are acceptable)
Award
- Up to $30,000 per partnership
- Applicants must match grant funds with monetary and in-kind contributions
Key Dates
- Application deadline: Sunday, October 25, 2026 at midnight
- Activities to take place in US city in 2027
Application
Applications must be submitted by the US city. Only one application per sister city partnership is accepted. Visit https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/kul/kua/unt/scp/cfp/app.html to apply.
Contact
Email [email protected] to schedule a virtual consultation call (up to 25 minutes) to ask questions and discuss project ideas. Appointments scheduled on first-come, first-served basis.
- Award
- up to $30,000
- Entries per artist
- Up to 1
- Theme
- Collaborative arts and culture projects that address current topics relevant to citizens of both cities and offer new perspectives through artistic and cultural lenses, promoting dialogue and understanding between US and German sister cities.
- Eligibility
- US cities with population up to 750,000 in non-coastal regions that have an established German sister city partnership and are willing to collaborate with local arts and culture organizations.
- Audience
- general public with focus on younger audiences (up to approximately 35 years of age)
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.