Models for Cultural Institutions of Tomorrow (working title)

Cultural institutions in large German cities are facing an array of complex, cultural-political challenges resulting from the rise of overlapping crises. The nationwide programme “Models for Cultural Institutions of Tomorrow” (working title) invites cultural organisations and municipalities to create a space for fundamental innovations and to resist the temptation of falling back on what is familiar and comfortable. With this programme, the German Federal Cultural Foundation has made funding available to facilitate the creation of new models, such as for intermunicipal partnerships or experimental usage concepts for cultural sites. The programme is based on the assumption that in ten years, cultural institutions will only enjoy broad support in society if they are perceived more strongly as a public asset.

In the orientation phase from 2024 to 2027, the German Federal Cultural Foundation will start by financing the development of up to 50 institutional innovation concepts in major German cities with €50,000 each. This phase also includes advising and networking events, while research visits and inspiration trips to model European cultural sites will offer participants an international perspective. A total of €4.6 million has been allocated to finance the measures. The Foundation plans to extend the programme after 2027 so that selected projects can be carried out.
 

The German cultural landscape is largely shaped by its institutions – museums, theatres, libraries and concert halls – which are mainly financed by the municipalities and federal states. The German Federal Cultural Foundation not only funds exceptional artistic projects in this field, but also continually promotes impulses for structural innovations. Extensive exploratory discussions have revealed how hard it is even for institutions with years of experience to prioritise current challenges and embrace innovative approaches in place at other institutions. 

The programme “Models for Cultural Institutions of Tomorrow” (working title) encourages institutions and cultural associations in large German cities to temporarily disengage from their daily operations and develop visions for experimental usage concepts for cultural sites or new intermunicipal partnerships. Project organisers can use their funding to seek outside expertise or to relieve staff from their daily tasks in order to free up time to come up with radical, new ideas.

Municipal policymakers and administrators – such as city councils, alderpersons, departmental heads – will be actively integrated into the future-oriented processes to interlink them with other urban developments. As part of the programme, theme-based events will offer participants with input on such topics as organisational development, artistic freedom, diversity, conflict moderation and crisis management. Funding recipients are allowed to participate in research visits and inspiration trips to exemplary cultural sites in Germany and neighbouring European countries where they can engage in dialogue with local creators on site.

Applications may be submitted as soon as the funding guidelines and application requirements are published on this page, prospectively in autumn 2024.