Commission for Art in Public Space 2025

The “stadt.raum.experimente” program, initiated by the Kunstkommission Düsseldorf, is designed to foster innovative and experimental art projects within public spaces in Düsseldorf. The initiative seeks to encourage artistic interventions that engage with the city’s urban environment, focusing on themes such as sustainability, mobility, public participation, and social issues. This annual project aims to reshape how the public interacts with the urban landscape through temporary art installations, performances, and participatory projects.

Key Features:

• Project Scope: Open to a wide range of artistic practices, including installations, performances, digital media, and other experimental forms. The projects must engage with public spaces in Düsseldorf and address the city’s evolving urban fabric.

• Eligibility: Both local artists from Düsseldorf and international artists are encouraged to apply. Projects must be professionally executed, meaning the applicant must have either completed formal art education or possess a significant exhibition history​

• Funding: Each selected project receives up to €60,000 in funding, with a total annual budget of €120,000. Artists can also secure additional third-party funding if the scope of their project exceeds this limit​

• Application Process: Submissions are accepted throughout the year, with a deadline for the following year’s projects typically in October (the deadline for 2025 is October 15, 2024). The selection process includes a jury of art professionals who review each submission based on its creativity, relevance to the urban environment, and feasibility​

• Types of Projects: The program is open to a diverse range of artistic expressions. In previous editions, selected projects have included performance art, multimedia installations, participatory art initiatives, and architectural interventions that encourage public engagement and rethinking of shared spaces​

Past Projects:

In recent years, “stadt.raum.experimente” has facilitated numerous compelling projects:

• “Antimonument”: A virtual reality project that allows participants to engage with historical public sculptures in new ways

• “Perspective” by Molly Joyce: A participatory project developed in collaboration with people with disabilities, using digital media to highlight issues of accessibility and mobility in urban spaces​

• “Cleaning Her” by Martina Morger: A performance piece focusing on underrepresented and overlooked art objects in public spaces, drawing attention to the labor and care involved in maintaining public artworks

Vision and Impact:

The Kunstkommission Düsseldorf envisions “stadt.raum.experimente” as a platform for contemporary artists to engage with Düsseldorf’s urban environment in transformative ways. The program not only allows for artistic experimentation but also encourages projects that reflect and actively contribute to the social and environmental fabric of the city. By introducing new ideas into public spaces, the program fosters a dialogue between artists, residents, and the city’s infrastructure, thereby enhancing civic engagement and urban development​.