Berlin Project Fund for Arts Education

On this page you will find the following information:

What and who can be funded?
What criteria are used for the assessment of funding applications?
Who takes the decision on project applications?
What funding opportunities are there?
When can applications be submitted?
Any questions?

Requirements for a project supported by the Project Fund:

1. The participants are mainly children, young people or young adults from 0 to 27 years living in Berlin.
2. The project focusses on artistic work. The project enables its participants to have concrete experiences with the arts, their techniques and methods. All artistic disciplines are eligible.
3. Another focus is on the involvement of the participants. The participants take part in determining the project and its course; they contribute their own opinions and are artistically active themselves.
4. A third focus is on the theme of the project. The participants deal with topics and questions that concern or interest them and that are socially relevant. The project is conceived and planned based on the young participants’ personal experiences and needs.
5. The project consists of a cooperation of at least two partners. At least one partner from the field of arts & culture (artist, independent group, cultural institution) collaborates with at least one partner from the field of education (school, educational initiative/association) or youth (youth club/centre, youth organisation). Institutions belonging to the Berlin administration are eligible as project partners but not as grant beneficiaries.

Proposals with a typical project character are eligible for funding. Such a project is clearly delimited in its duration. Its content and implementation can already be described in the application for funding. However, it is also possible to receive funding for projects that are more akin to an experimental partnership. Specific projects are being developed gradually as the cooperation partners get to know each other. Such partnerships consist in branches of individual artists ("residency") or of cultural institutions ("dependance") in educational, children’s and youth facilities. Ideally, such branches initiate long-term changes within the institutional structures of the partners involved.

The quality of a project regarding the artistic focus, participatory character and theme is crucial.

Artistic quality:

On the one hand, artistic quality refers to the expertise of the partners from the field of arts & culture. This expertise does not necessarily have to result from a formal educational qualification (art college, etc.). It can also be based on previously gathered artistic experience. In the funding application, forms of artistic engagement, artistic methods, activities and processes planned in the project should be described. Innovative and interdisciplinary projects are given special consideration.

Pedagogical-participatory quality:

The pedagogical-participatory quality relates to the project partners’ expertise in the pedagogical field. Furthermore, the project should be as open and participatory in its approach as necessary for the participants to work in a self-determined way - both artistically and in terms of content. The degree to which participants can influence and self-determinate the project can be described in the application.

Quality of theme:

Projects funded by the Project Fund shall recognise the participants' lived realities and the participants themselves as experts of these lived realities. The participants deal with topics relevant to them. Particular consideration is given to projects that value the diversity shaping the lives of young people in Berlin and also look at diversity from a perspective that takes into account existing power dynamics and forms of discrimination. The Project Fund appreciates the participation of members belonging to the target group or of experts on the project topic in the development of the project. For example, in projects dealing with the topic of inclusion, people with a disability should be part of the project team - ideally also at the management level. Another important aspect taken into account for the funding decision is how the topic of the project is being approached.

For more information on the funding criteria see the complete funding guidelines (in German only).

The Young Jury, consisting of young people and young adults, the regular Jury and, in the case of higher funding amounts, the Advisory Board are involved in the decision on the projects. A list of the members of these committees can be found here (in German).

Funding Module 1 – Innovative projects

Within this funding module, projects with an innovative approach can be supported. Innovation can, for example, manifest itself in the currentness of the topics dealt with in the projects, in new artistic methods or in a novel pedagogical approach. Another example of innovation could be the cooperation between types of partners who have not yet worked together before.

Funding amount: € 5,001 to 23,000
Project duration: 12 months max. (successful projects can be submitted once again)
Application deadlines: Applications can be submitted twice a year - in spring and autumn.
The earliest possible project start is in January or July, respectively.

Funding Module 1plus – “Durchstarten” (Literally: “taking off”)

"Durchstarten" is an accessible funding programme aimed primarily at people with disabilities, with migration background, refugees or young people up to the age of 27 as applicants. As a condition for funding, they themselves must submit the application and carry out the project. For more information, see here.

Funding Module 2 – Structure-building projects

In this funding module, larger projects with a structure-building character are funded. Structure-building may mean, for example:

• The project aims at continuity through a multi-year outline
• the project has an impetus-giving, exemplary character and can be transferred to other contexts
• the project supports the creation of sustainable networks among the participating actors
• the project results in sustainable changes within the structures of the partners involved

Projects in the second funding module have a city-wide character. This means that they must involve partners from the fields of education or youth from at least six Berlin districts. Typically, they are projects that have already been tested, for example within the funding module 1. Before submitting an application, applicants are advised to seek consultation with the office of the Berlin Project Fund for Arts Education.

Funding amount: from € 23,001
Project duration: 12 months max. It is possible to apply for project funding up to three years in a row.
Application deadlines: Applications can be submitted once a year at the beginning of the year. Projects can start in May at the earliest.

Funding Module 2plus – Partnerships

Funding will be provided to initiate partnerships between cultural partners and educational or youth partners from at least three Berlin districts with visible development potential for long-term cooperation.

Funding amount: from € 23,001
Project duration: Projects can be submitted three years in a row. There is an annually increasing share of own funds that has to be contributed.
Share of own funds: 20% in the 1st year, 50% in the 2nd year, 70% in the 3rd year. Up to half of it can be covered by personnel costs.
Application deadlines: Applications can be submitted once a year at the beginning of the year.
Projects can start in May at the earliest.

Funding Module 3 – district funding for small neighbourhood projects

In funding module 3, smaller projects carried out in single districts are funded. The respective arts and culture department of the district where the partner from the field of education or youth is located is in charge of funding. 

Funding amount: up to € 5,000
Project duration: 12 months max.
Application and deadlines: Different application procedures and deadlines apply according to each district. The deadlines and the links to the district websites with information about the each district’s procedure can be found here.

Current calls for applications are announced on the Project Fund’s homepage www.projektfonds-kulturelle-bildung.berlin