Please note that the information on this page only applies to funding opportunities through our programme line 1 "Temporary relocation to Germany: Artists and cultural actors at risk have the possibility to temporarily stay and work in Germany with the assistance of a host cultural institution.". Information on our other funding opportunities 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
Temporary relocation to Germany: Artists and cultural actors at risk have the possibility to temporarily stay and work in Germany with the assistance of a host cultural institution. (Programme line 1)
MRI funding in programme line 1 enables cultural organisations in Germany to temporarily host artists and cultural actors and to provide a free and safe space for them to continue their creative work. The funding includes a monthly scholarship.
Note: The MRI is not an emergency programme. We therefore cannot provide immediate support or speed up processes.
Scholarships in programme line 1 (stay in Germany) last up to 12 months.
- a monthly scholarship,
- 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 (please note that we cannot fund permanent staff and freelance work that is not directly related to the purpose of the grant),
- 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,
Please note that the scholarship visa does not automatically entitle scholarship holders to take up employment or self-employment in Germany.
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
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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,
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are still active in their home countries, have only recently left their home country (departure after the deadline of the last call for applications by the MRI on the 01.04.2022), or are not safe in their current locations
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do not have access to a safe abode (e.g. due to dual citizenship or permanent residency),
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have the necessary language skills to facilitate collaboration with a host institution,
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who are 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),
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The Martin Roth-Initiative is currently preparing a continuation of the Afghanistan programme. Information will be available on our website in 2023. Therefore, inquiries and applications from Afghan artists cannot be processed within the framework of the call for applications in program line 1. We ask for your patience regarding these requests.
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For artists and cultural workers from Ukraine, we refer to the Goethe-Institut's “Ukraine Help” and the ifa’s “Cultural Aid Ukraine” programmes.
Please note that all the above criteria must be met in order to be eligible for a MRI-scholarship.
EU citizens are not eligible for funding.
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Applications for funding must be submitted by host organisations.
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For an application, the host organisation submits a short concept note in the first step, after successful review of which the application form is activated. Likewise, the artists and cultural actors first submit a request form with a few questions and answers on the criteria and receive access to a personal statement after a successful review. The application is made via a platform. Please note the respective deadlines for submitting the forms.
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The template financing plan is available for download in a password-protected FAQ, access to which is available on the application platform.
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The MRI team will be happy to advise you on the application process during application consultation workshops. To submit your application, please note our current deadlines and dates. Useful information can be found in our FAQ, access to which is available on the platform.
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After a formal review of all submitted documents, scholarship holders are selected by an independent committee consisting of members of the art and cultural scene in Germany and of representatives of civil society institutions.
Important note: There is no legal entitlement to the award of a grant by the MRI. Please note that the selection is for the time being still subject to the availability of the budget funds.
What criteria are used to select scholarship holders and the corresponding projects for MRI funding?
After an assessment of the formal eligibility criteria by the Martin Roth-Initiative, an independent committee selects the project applications to be funded. The selection is based on the following criteria:
- Existing threats/risk situation for the artist/cultural actor
- Profile of the artist / the cultural actor (quality and social relevance of previous work / fit with MRI mission).
- Quality of the application & capacities of the host organisation (Are the goals and measures/activities reasonable, appropriate, realistic and coherent? To what extent is the professional development or continuation of artistic/cultural work of the scholarship holder supported?)
- Artistic/work-relevant fit between host organisation and scholarship holder, support and integration (suitability of the host organisation)
- Potential positive impact on the home/host community through the project.
- Gender and diversity aspects are taken into account when selecting scholarship holders/projects.
- By incl. 08.02.2023 at 23:59 CET: Deadline for submission of a request form by the artists/ cultural actors. (Please note that we provide standardised forms via our application platform).
- By incl.17.02.2023 at 23:59 CET: Deadline for submission of a Personal Statement by the artists/cultural operators.
- By incl. 08.02.2023 at 23:59 CET: Deadline for the digital submission of the Concept Note by the host organisation. (Please note that we provide standardised forms via our application platform. A financial plan template is available for download on this website).
- By incl. 22.02.2023 at 23:59 CET: Deadline for the digital submission of a project proposal incl. financing plan.
- By incl. 01.03.2023: Deadline for submission of a legally signed and stamped application (analogue/postal, only from the host organisation)
- April 2023: Decision by the selection committee
- April/May 2023: Announcement of the decisions of the selection committee
- May 2023: Signing of contract and start of visa procedures (only concerns approved projects)
- from 01.06.2023: earliest start date of the funding periods (latest start date: 15.07.2023)
- from 15.07.2023: earliest start date of protection/creative stays (latest start date: 01.09.2023)
Important note: There is no legal entitlement to the award of a grant by the MRI. Please note that the selection is initially still subject to the availability of the budgeted funds.
Please note that the Martin Roth-Initiative team is not available between 23 December 2022 and 3 January2023.
You can find the application platform under the following link.
- As a first-time user, please select the desired call for proposals, click on "Apply" and answer the questions in the "Concept Note" (for host organisations) or the "Request Form" (for scholarship holders). After submitting the "Concept Note" or "Request Form", you will receive an activation link to the e-mail address you entered in the form.
- Once you have assigned a password, you can log in to the platform at any time and track your applicant status on the "Dashboard" via the status display. If you have any questions, you can contact us via the "Communications" button.
- After reviewing the "Concept Note" or the "Request Form", you will receive an application form or a personal statement if you meet the formal criteria. Please note that you must always save drafts of your documents using the "Save Draft" function. All documents are submitted digitally via the "Submit" button; only the application form of the host organisation must be signed and stamped and sent by post. Please generate a PDF version of the final application for this step via the "Print Button" (or the function Ctrl - P).
- The financial plan template (only for host organisations) can be downloaded from a password-protected FAQ, access to which is available on the application platform.
If you have questions about temporary relocation to Germany (programme line 1), please check the information on this page first.
In addition, we offer the following options for host organisations to get advice regarding the current call for applications:
- Digital consultation workshops: 13.12.2022 at 11:00 am and 20.12.2022 at 11:00 am. Additional dates may be communicated on this website.
- Additional consultations: online every Tuesday at 11:00 am from January 10, 2023 until the end of the application period.
If you are interested in any of these dates, please request a participation link: invitations [at] mri-application [dot] de.
Please note that the Martin Roth-Initiative team is not available between 23 December 2022 and 3 January2023.
Information for Host Organisations
Please note the following information for host organisations.
You are welcome to contact us regarding the support of a specific artist/cultural actor at risk or several artists/cultural actors at risk, or to signal a general willingness to cooperate. We will be happy to advise you and jointly determine possibilities for the implementation of a project. Please always observe our instructions for secure communication.
The host organisation must be a legal non-profit entity (e.g. e.V., gGmbH, etc.). Private individuals may not apply for funding. The Martin Roth-Initiative is required to verify the non-profit status of the applying organisations and requires the submission of relevant supporting documents via the platform.
The host organisation should have experience in dealing with public funding or be willing to acquire the necessary skills to comply with the public funding regulations.
The host organisation must be able to integrate an artist or cultural actor at risk into its structures, support with the continuation of their artistic work, and to provide a necessary level of personal support.
The host organisation must be willing to deal with issues concerning security and to take the necessary measures to guarantee safety standards.
The host organisation must have sufficient organisational and administrative capacities to deal with matters related to right of residence (if necessary with the support of the MRI).
- Host organisations organise and implement MRI funded projects. This means that the MRI concludes funding agreements with host organisations, which in turn take care of the artistic, professional and personal integration of the scholarship holder. Host organisations are providing everyday support to scholarship holders.
- Temporary relocations funded by the MRI aim not only to protect artists and cultural actors at risk but also to provide a free and secure space for them to continue their creative work and to develop professionally. A host organisation should therefore be able to integrate the scholarship holder into existing structures/networks and provide a setting to further their work and professional opportunities.
Please note the information for artists and cultural actors below.
A host organization may submit only one application per call for applications, but it may include several artists, provided that there are substantive links between them and they apply with a common project. This could be the case with artistic collectives.
Information for artists/cultural actors
Please note the following information for artists and cultural actors.
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You can only apply in tandem with a cultural host organisation in Germany. This means that a host organisation must submit an application to the MRI in order to implement a project in Germany with you. Should your project be selected by an independent selection committee, the MRI concludes a funding agreement with the host organisation, which in turn takes care of your artistic, professional and personal integration. The host organisation supports you with questions and challenges of everyday life. The sponsorship includes a monthly scholarship.
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Please make sure that your situation responds to the criteria listed under "General Information".
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Applications are submitted via an application platform, you can find a short description under "How does the application platform work?
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Fill out the request form on our platform. If you have any questions, please contact us via the chat function.
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If all formal criteria are sufficiently fulfilled and a host organisation is available, we will provide you with access to our Personal Statement via the platform.
No, all funding is channelled through designated host organisations. The provision of scholarships without a host organisation is not possible.
Due to limited capacity, MRI is unfortunately unable to assist in the search for host organisations.
Please use your network for your search or, if possible, contact organisations you know or have worked with before.
People from all fields of art and culture can apply for an MRI scholarship, provided that all the above criteria (see general information) are met.
Information about the application platform
Please note the following information regarding the application platform.
You can find the application platform here.
As a first-time user, please select the desired call for proposals, click on "Apply" and answer the questions in the "Concept Note" (for host organisations) or the "Request Form" (for scholarship holders).
After submitting the "Concept Note" or "Request Form", you will receive an activation link to the e-mail address you entered in the form.
Once you have assigned a password, you can log in to the platform at any time and track your applicant status on the "Dashboard" via the status display.
If you have any questions, you can contact us via the "Communications" button. It is important that you set "Visible to" to "ALL" below the message field. Otherwise, your messages will not be transmitted to us.
After reviewing the "Concept Note" or the "Request Form", you will receive an application form or a personal statement if you meet the formal criteria. Please note that you must always save drafts of your documents using the "Save Draft" function. This allows you to continue editing at a later time.
All documents are submitted digitally via the "Submit" button; only the application form of the host organisation must be signed, stamped and sent by post to this adress: Martin Roth-Initiative, Linienstraße 139/140, 10115 Berlin, Deutschland. Please generate a PDF version of the final application for this step via the "Print Button" (or the function Ctrl - P).
The financial plan template (only for host organisations) can be downloaded from a password-protected FAQ, access to which is available on the application platform.
In order to reset your password, if you are not logged in, you simply have to access the login page which also appears by clicking the “My MRI” symbol in the above right corner of the page. Click the section “forgot your password?” and you will be guided to enter your Email address. Afterwards a link will be sent to you and you will be able to set new password for your user account.
If you are already logged in to your account and would like to change the password, you can access your profile page by going to https://apply.mri-application.de/account/. You can use the "update password" button to change your current password. You can also change your username here by entering a new Full Name and "Update Profile".
If you have questions regarding the program and the application, please check the information on this page first.
Above in the section "General Information", you will find information on our application workshops and online consultations.
You can also contact the MRI via the application platform. The option "COMMUNICATIONS" is at the top of the homepage. (Please select the option "ALL" in the "Visible to" field that pops up, otherwise your message will not reach us). However, enquiries can only be answered within the limits of our capacities.
Please note: The MRI is not an emergency programme. We therefore cannot provide immediate support or speed up processes.
Contact
In case the information above does not answer your questions, please use the application platform as the primary way to contact us.
If you would like to contact us in a different way, please 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 info [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. 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.
Info phone: +49 (0)30 284491-77. Please pay attention to the information on consultation hours and application workshops above under "General Information".
Please note our Information on data protection and processing of your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
