As part of its commitment to contemporary art, Deutsche Bank has launched the new studio fellowship "MACHT KUNST! More Space for Creativity". In the light of the significant increase in the cost of living, the bank will support 50 artists up to the age of 35 working in Germany with a grant of EUR 500 per month. The funding period will be one-off twelve months.
In addition to the expenses for materials and production, the costs of maintaining a studio have risen drastically. This particularly affects those visual artists who are at the beginning of their careers. With the new studio grant, we want to give them more room for creativity - in the truest sense of the word. For sponsored fellows who work with the paper or photography, there is the additional opportunity of purchasing a selection of their works through the Deutsche Bank Collection, which focuses on these areas.
The studio grant "MACHT KUNST! More Space for Creativity" is the continuation of the "MACHT KUNST!" series, which celebrated a highly acclaimed launch in 2013. At that time, Deutsche Bank invited visual artists in Berlin to present their works to a large audience for 24 hours during the opening of the Deutsche Bank KunstHalle. This was followed by "MACHT KUNST! Your Sculpture for Berlin" (2015) and "MACHT KUNST! city video future" (2017). As part of the series, Deutsche Bank has so far helped around 2,500 artists to publicly present their works.
Artists of all fields of the visual arts who meet the requirements for funding can learn more about the conditions of participation on this website and apply for the program using the application form March 23, 2023; the deadline for applications is April 21, 2023.
The call for applications and the selection of the fellows will be made in cooperation with Social Impact gGmbH. The disbursement of the fund is planned at the beginning of June 2023.
Please note, the conditions of participation and data protection apply in German. The information provided here in English is only intended as an aid for artists who are not fully conversant with the German language. Only the German version of the conditions of participation and data protection information is legally binding.
Please read the program FAQs carefully to check your eligibility for this grant. If you are eligible to apply, please use our online application form.
After the application deadline, all applications are checked for completeness and fulfilment of the funding requirements. After this, a pre-selection is made by a panel of experts with regard to the need for funding. From the pre-selected applications, 50 scholarship holders are selected by lottery.
After the selection process has been completed, you will be informed as of May 15, 2023. In case of a positive notice, please send us your bank account details so that the monthly payments can be arranged.
Deutsche Bank has a long tradition of supporting young artists through scholarships. Since the 1920s, Deutsche Bank and its foundations have been one of the main sponsors of the Villa Romana Prize. This oldest German art prize has been awarded to outstanding artists living in Germany since 1905. The award includes a prize money and a ten-month stay at the Villa Romana in Florence.
Deutsche Bank's commitment to support art in general is part of the Art and Culture division. This division entails Deutsche Bank's support programmes and conceptually develops them further. Together with the business divisions, Art and Culture opens up new access to the world of art and culture for the bank's clients. Deutsche Bank sets standards worldwide with its contemporary art program - be it with its art collection, one of the world's most important collections of contemporary works on paper and photographs, with international exhibitions or the PalaisPopulaire in Berlin. For almost 20 years, the bank has been the Global Lead Partner of the art fair Frieze with locations in London, New York, Los Angeles and Seoul.
The studio program is aimed at self-employed visual artists up to the age of 35.
Artistic activity is only considered self-employed if it does not involve an employment contract.
Associations, companies, collectives, etc. are excluded for this particular funding. The grant program is aimed exclusively at individuals.
The scholarship is intended to support the artistic work of visual artists by providing a financial contribution to cover increased costs e.g., energy, operating, procurement or living costs.
You confirm your membership in the Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) by providing us with a current membership confirmation including your membership number. If you do not have a current certificate, you can request one from the KSK by telephone or e-mail. Here you can find the contact details of the KSK.
For artists who have only been living in Germany since 2021 and are not members of the KSK, they can also prove their artistic activity through their artistic CV, catalogues, references to participation in exhibitions, or other such documentation.
In the application form, you are asked to describe your income development in the years 2019 to 2022 and the cost development in 2022. In addition, you have the space to specify your particular circumstances. Your given information will allow us to determine whether there is an urgent need of financial support.
No. An examination of assets is not part of the application process. However, you should explain convincingly that the current crises and price increases have a lasting negative impact on your artistic work.
First and foremost, the scholarships are intended to strengthen the artistic development of young artists. The economic need is the key factor in the decision-making process.
There is no entitlement to funding.
A total of 50 scholarships will be awarded.
If the scholarship is granted, it will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 500 € each. The money transfer will be issued at the beginning of the month.
The scholarship entails a non-repayable grant. Repayment is only required if the grant was awarded based on false information (e.g., artist’s status, income or costs).
We would welcome if you wrote a short project report after nine months of funding, explaining what artistic projects you are carrying out or have carried out and what you have used the funding for. A detailed breakdown of your costs is not expected. However, we would like you to send us photos of the status of your artistic work per email. This would be particularly interesting if you consider selling your artwork(s) to Deutsche Bank.
All applications will be accepted until the deadline of April 23, 2023. The decision-making process follows a three-stage procedure. First, the applications are checked for formal correctness. If the number of screened, suitable applications exceeds 50, the next step will be a pre-selection by a panel of experts from Social Impact gGmbH.
The central factors for the pre-selection to the lottery procedure are:
If more than 50 applications are pre-selected, the third step is the drawing of lots.
After the decision by lot, all applicants will be informed by mail as of May 15.
The scholarship is intended to allow for the continuation of your artistic activity. This means that the funds should primarily be used to cover studio costs, operating costs or costs for artistic materials.
The grant is not specific to a project and is primarily intended to finance your operating costs.
As part of the application process, you need to provide your name, address, telephone number, e-mail and, if applicable, web address, as well as a current proof of KSK membership.
Only after the selection procedure is complete and you have received a positive note, we require further documents and these are a photocopy (scan) of your ID card or passport, a German tax identification number, and your current bank account details.
If you are a European citizen, we need a copy (scan) of your identity document or passport and the registration confirmation from the registration office.
If you are not a European citizen, we need a copy (scan) of your passport and a copy (scan) of your permit of residency or a right of residence certificate, as well as a copy (scan) of the registration confirmation from the registration office.
All data provided will only be used to the necessary extent, see Conditions of Participation and Privacy Policy (only available in German).
In this case, please contact our team via email. An application can be submitted only once and can be changed only once.
Please check your SPAM folder first. If you have not received a confirmation email, please contact our team via email.
From Deutsche Bank's perspective, the scholarship does not exclude any other grant or funding programs.
The scholarship counts as income. However, whether it is subject to income tax depends on various factors. This is governed by Section 3 of the Income Tax Act. Please check the effect of the stipend concerning your income tax or sales tax obligations with a tax consultant (https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/estg/__3.html).
If you receive any benefits, you should clarify with the responsible authority to what extent the scholarship affects these payments and if they consider the scholarship as income.
No, the decision to buy or sell artwork is independent of the scholarship award. Based on your submitted images and presentations of your work, Deutsche Bank may ask you to present your artwork in person in due time and may make you an offer of purchase.
No, Deutsche Bank is not obligated to purchase any artwork.
After reading everything carefully, all your questions should be answered. If you have any enquiries that have not been answered here, please contact our team by email at kuenstlerstipendien@socialimpact.eu.
Ready to apply? Then use our online application form. We look forward to receiving your application until April 23, 2023!
