Please note that the information on this page only applies to additional scholarship opportunities specifically for Afghan artists and cultural actors. Information on our regular application procedures can be found here.
Before contacting us, please read the general information as well as specific information for host organisations and artists and cultural actors at risk. Please pay particular attention to the information on secure communication!
General Information
Support for Afghan artists and cultural actors
The Martin Roth-Initiative offers support for Afghan artists and cultural actors at risk who have been issued a residence permit according to section 22 sentence 2 of Germany’s Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) after the Taliban took power in August 2021. The program helps the artists and cultural actors continuing their creative work in Germany.
Application
Currently, you can apply for scholarships that begin 01.03.2023 and end 30.08.2023.
The new scholarships entail monthly payments of 250 € and the possibility to take part in a program of on- and offline events aimed at supporting the scholarship holders in their efforts to continue their work in Germany.
To be eligible for a MRI Afghanistan scholarship, you must meet all the following criteria:
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You are an artist or cultural actor from Afghanistan
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You have a residence permit according to section 22 sentence 2 of Germany’s Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG).
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You have left Afghanistan after the Taliban took power in August 2021.
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You are currently living in Germany or have the possibility to relocate to Germany without further assistance by the MRI before the beginning of the scholarship.
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You are not receiving other MRI funding in the period 01.03.-30.08.2023.
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Previously, you have not received more than twelve months of MRI funding. (In case you have previously received more than six months of MRI funding, the length of the new scholarship will automatically be reduced so that the total funding period does not exceed twelve months. For example, if you have received nine months of funding in 2022, you can receive no more than three months in 2023.)
Additional selection criteria like the artistic profile of the applicant or gender and diversity aspects may apply if the number of applications exceeds the number of available grants.
There is no legal entitlement to receiving a grant by the MRI.
To the knowledge of the MRI, you can usually receive the scholarship without losing any social benefits you may also receive. The allowance corresponds to the maximum permissible income from artistic activities in addition to social benefits. If the grant represents the only income from secondary artistic activities for the funding period, it does not affect the payment of social benefits. Nevertheless, the MRI is not liable for the Jobcenter's handling of the grant.
All artistic and cultural disciplines are welcome to apply.
In order to apply, please fill in the application form (download link below) and send it to Afghanistan [at] mri-application [dot] detarget="_blank" until 16th February 2023.
What happens after I submitted my application? All applications will be carefully reviewed by the MRI. Applicants will be informed about the outcome as soon as possible.
Application form
Contact
Before you send us a specific request, please read the general and specific information and criteria carefully. Please also observe the following information on secure communication in order to reduce risks for all parties involved (these are recommendations for improving digital protection, 100% security cannot be guaranteed).
We recommend that you use encrypted communication services. We have listed one free provider below through which you can reach us. Before you do so, please check whether the installation or use of the respective service in your home country (or country of residence) could lead to security issues (suspicion, prosecution). If necessary, inquire locally and/or research (if possible) on the internet, for example under Privacy International.
- Protonmail: This e-mail service allows for end-to-end encrypted messages between Protonmail users. You can create an account free of charge at www.protonmail.com and send us a message to afghanistan [at] mri-application [dot] de (please note that this is a Protonmail email address). Attention: If you send an e-mail from another provider to this address, it will not be encrypted!
ATTENTION: Unencrypted e-mails or phone calls are comparable to postcards in terms of security. This also applies to channels like Facebook, SMS, Skype and - to a certain extent - Whatsapp. If you still wish to contact MRI in this way, please make sure that you do not disclose any sensitive data (names of persons at risk, information on the risk situation, etc.) when contacting MRI.
- email: Please send all requests regarding the MRI Afghanistan programme to the following email address only: afghanistan [at] mri-application [dot] de
Please note our Information on data protection and processing of your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
