Artists’ Contacts 2026: Apply for ifa International Arts and Cultural Exchange Funding for Projects in 2027
The ifa Artists’ Contacts programme offers funding for international artistic and cultural exchange projects connecting Germany with countries of the Global South and transition countries. Supported projects are scheduled to take place between March and November 2027.
Overview
The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) Artists’ Contacts programme provides financial support for international artistic and cultural exchange initiatives. The initiative seeks to strengthen international collaboration, encourage knowledge exchange, support artistic mobility, and build sustainable professional networks between Germany and countries included on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of developing and transition countries.
Eligible activities include working visits, research trips, exhibitions, artist-in-residence programmes, workshops, lectures, conferences, performances, and other cultural exchange projects. Supported projects for this cycle are scheduled to run from March through November 2027.
Eligibility
The funding scheme is open to a wide range of visual arts and cultural professionals, including:
- Artists and curators
- Art mediators and art educators
- Art theorists
- Architects and designers
- Photographers and media artists
- Cultural institutions
Key conditions and requirements include:
- Projects must demonstrate high artistic quality and reflect ifa values such as diversity, democratic values, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.
- Projects must involve genuine artistic content cooperation between Germany and eligible DAC countries.
- For projects in Germany, participating cultural workers must be residents of an eligible DAC country. For projects outside Germany, non-German participants must have resided in Germany for at least five years.
- An official invitation from a non-commercial cultural or exhibition organization is generally required (excluding research trips).
- Commercial projects, commercial art fairs, art sales, and student projects are strictly excluded.
How to Apply
The application procedure requires completion of both digital and physical submission steps:
- Step 1: Request access through the official online application system.
- Step 2: Use the link sent via email to set up and complete the online application form.
- Step 3: Submit the application electronically.
- Step 4: Print, sign, and mail the physical copy by post to the ifa office in Stuttgart, ensuring the postmark meets the deadline.
Required documentation typically includes an invitation letter, description of the host institution, curriculum vitae for applicants, visual materials or artistic work samples, and three airfare quotations.
Deadline
The formal application deadline is 30 September 2026. Successful applicants will be notified in February 2027.