Temporary relocation to Germany:

Artists and cultural actors at risk have the possibility to temporarily stay and work in Germany with the support of a host cultural organisation.

This funding option from the Martin Roth Initiative enables host organisations in Germany to temporarily take in artists and cultural actors at risk and enable them to continue their work in a safe context. The application is submitted in tandem between the artists and cultural actors and the host organisations. In addition to a monthly stipend, the funding includes financial ressources to support artistic/cultural work, among other things.

Note:  The MRI is not an emergency programme. We therefore cannot provide immediate support or speed up processes.

Who is Eligible to receive this scholarship:

Artists and cultural actors worldwide, who

• through their artistic work are committed to an open society, freedom, peace and democracy, who reject any kind of discrimination and who, because of their work or due to other circumstances, experience restrictions on their freedom or threats from state and/or non-state actors

• are still active in their countries of origin, have only recently left their countries of origin (departure after the deadline of the last call for applications by the MRI on the 15/04/2024), or are not safe in their current locations

• do not have access to a safe abode (e.g. due to dual citizenship or permanent residency by means of a national or humanitarian visa),

• have the necessary language skills to facilitate collaboration with a host institution

• who are demonstrably artistically/culturally active and whose works have a proven artistic/cultural and/or social relevance (hobby artists or persons who undertake purely private artistic activities are not eligible for funding)

Please note that all the above criteria must be met in order to be eligible for a MRI-scholarship and that MRI cannot provide matching with a host organisation.

EU citizens are not eligible for funding.

What does the funding include?

• a monthly scholarship

• individual support for the scholarship holders (e.g. necessary insurance, psychosocial support, language courses, trainings, networking activities, etc.)

• if necessary, financial support for additional personnel for the host organisation (please note that we cannot fund permanent staff and freelance work that is not directly related to the purpose of the grant)

• counselling by the MRI and further training (for example on topics such as safety, sensitive public relations, psycho-social support) as well as networking activities and exchange of experience with other host organisations and scholarship holders

• support in the visa process for scholarship holders (please note that the scholarship visa does not automatically entitle scholarship holders to take up employment or self-employment in Germany)

How long the scholarship lasts?

Scholarships last up to 15 months.

Deadlines and Dates:

• 06/09/2024, 5:00pm CEST: deadline for requesting an account for the application platform (via e-mail: apply@mri-application.de)

• 09/09/2024, 11:59pm CEST: deadline for digital submission of the Artist Application by artist or cultural actor (via application platform)

• 09/09/2024, 11:59pm CEST: deadline for digital submission of the Host Application by host organisation (via application platform)

• 23/09/2024, 11:59pm CEST: deadline (postmark) for submission of a legally signed and stamped hardcopy of the Host Application (form on the application platform) by host organisation

• End of October: announcement of the decision of the selection committee

• 01/01/2025: earliest possible start date of funding periods

• 01/03/2025: earliest possible start of protection/creative stays (latest possible start date: 01/05/2025)