Martin Roth Initiative (MRI) is supporting artists and cultural actors at risk to temporarily relocate to Germany with the assistance of a host cultural institution. Scholarships awarded through the programme last up to 12 months.
MRI funding enables cultural organisations in Germany to temporarily host artists and cultural actors, providing scholarships and a free and safe space for them to continue their creative work and to develop proessionally. Based on current estimates, the initiative anticipate funding for 10 - 15 protective stays.
The funding consists of 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, 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.
Host organisations can be cultural institutions or collectives (e.g. museums, theatres, festivals, etc.) and other relevant organisations that are based in Germany. These organisations not only host scholarship holders but also provide support for their personal wellbeing and professional development.
Artists and cultural actors worldwide who
- through their artistic work are committed to an open society, freedom, peace and democracy 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 home countries or have only recently left their home country,
- do not have access to a safe abode (e.g. due to dual citizenship or permanent residency),
- have the necessary language skills to facilitate collaboration with a host institution,
- whoare 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) are welcome to apply
- For artists and cultural actors from Afghanistan, please consult the call for applications for Afghan cultural actors
There are three different deadlines: The personal statement by applicant artists/cultural actors should be submitted until 20 April. Deadline for digital submission of the final version of the project proposal by the applicant host organisation is 29 April. Duly signed and stamped application (by post; only host organisation) should be submitted until 10 May. More information about the Open Call can be found here.
The Martin Roth-Initiative was started as a joint project by the ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) and the Goethe-Institut in reaction to the global decline in pre-political spaces. In many countries, state and non-state actors are increasingly restricting the work by and with critical artists as well as civil-society actors. Socio-political commitment in these countries results in personal danger for those involved.
