Berlin Cultural Exchange Grants 2027/2028 — Istanbul, Paris, New York & Tokyo

Overview

The State of Berlin's Cultural Exchange Grants fund study residencies at fixed partner locations in Istanbul, New York, Paris, and Tokyo for professionally working artists (and curators in New York) registered as primarily resident in Berlin. Recipients build understanding of local culture, study developments in the local scene, make contacts, exchange ideas, gain inspiration, or realize artistic projects on site.

Eligibility

• Professionally working artists in the relevant discipline (or curators in the visual arts field for New York) who can demonstrate their artistic work with work samples
• Primary residence registered in Berlin at time of application with proof required
• Knowledge of local language and/or good English skills required by start of stay
• On-site presence mandatory during stay abroad
• Cannot apply to more than one residency location simultaneously
• Former recipients whose stay ended more than two years ago (October 2024 or earlier) may reapply
• All Berlin State stipends combinable up to €24,000 per calendar year
• Cannot currently be enrolled as students or employed as professors
• Jury members, staff of Berlin Senate Department, and their relatives excluded

Categories

• Visual Arts
• Comic/Cartoon
• Sound/Music
• Composer
• Literature
• Dance
• Curatorial (New York only)

Program Benefits

• Istanbul: €2,500/month for 3 months, plus rent-free studio apartment
• New York: €3,000/month for 3 months, plus €1,000/month accommodation allowance and studio use at ISCP
• Paris: €2,500/month for 6 months, plus rent-free studio apartment at Cité Internationale des Arts and participation in Cité programme offerings
• Tokyo: €3,000/month for 3 months, plus rent-free studio apartment at TOKAS

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: 15 September 2026
• Preliminary selection results: expected January 2027
• Final selection results: expected February 2027
• Istanbul residency period 1: September–November 2027
• Istanbul residency period 2: March–May 2028
• New York residency period: September–November 2027
• Paris (music/composition) residency period 1: April–September 2027
• Paris (music/composition) residency period 2: October 2027–March 2028
• Paris (visual arts/literature/dance) residency period: May–October 2027
• Paris (comic artists) residency period: November 2027–April 2028
• Tokyo residency period: September–November 2027

Application & Fees

Online application. No application fee.

Selection Process

Two-stage jury process: subject-specific juries convene for preliminary selection, followed by final selection. Jury composition published on relevant websites. Applicants are asked not to contact jury members directly.

Additional Information

All State of Berlin stipends are combinable up to €24,000 per calendar year; any stipends already awarded for 2026 must be declared. Applying for stipends from other funding bodies is permitted, but any resulting award must be reported for combinability verification. The Paris comic grant cannot be combined with a working stipend for comic artists from the Deutscher Literaturfonds for the same funding period.