Call for applications: Goethe-Institut travel grants

The fund provides support for music projects in the form of a travel grant for professional ensembles and musicians based in Germany who intend to perform abroad. To be eligible, the projects must demonstrate a high level of musicianship. The Goethe-Institut’s Music Division is assisted in reviewing project proposals by its artistic advisory board and event programmers at the corresponding Goethe-Instituts abroad.

Different guidelines now apply for Goethe-Institut funding in 2021. Funding is also available for short trips and travel to neighbouring Western countries. Last-minute requests for funding will also be processed.

Prerequisites for eligibility

• The applicant musician or ensemble must be professional.
• The applicant musician or ensemble must live and do most of its work in Germany.
• The project must be of a high level of musicianship and cultural significance.
• The applicant musician or ensemble must already be in possession of definite invitations from partners abroad.
• As a rule, Goethe-Institut provides only partial funding in the form of a travel grant. Therefore, the bulk of the funding for the project should be previously secured.
• The focus of the tour should be on concertising. Concert-related events such as masterclasses, seminars and workshops are also eligible for funding.
• Projects in almost any musical genre are eligible for funding, except Schlager music, blues, cabaret, musicals, and international and commercial folk music.
• Funding is available for concerts, masterclasses, seminars, workshops and residencies outside of the secondary and higher education sectors.
• For travel within Europe, Goethe-Institut recommends taking the train, a flexible and environmentally sustainable means of public transport, even if it entails higher costs. Therefore, funding will be available to cover train fares.

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Projects involving young or amateur musicians or professional choirs (which are handled by the Goethe-Institut Section for the Promotion of Young and Amateur Musicians).
• Educational projects (also handled by the institute’s Section for the Promotion of Young and Amateur Musicians).
• Travel for mainly commercial or touristic purposes (promotional tours, appearances at trade fairs and the like).
• Friendship meetings and social function of chiefly local importance.
• Fundraising events for a charitable cause.
• Participation in congresses, symposia and competitions.
• School or training-related projects (scholarships/educational grants, theses/dissertations, research work).
• Development aid projects.

Required documents

• Fully completed application form.
• Official confirmation from the inviting local partner, specifying agreed dates and nature of the events (concert, workshop, etc.) and the partner’s commitments (amount of fee payable, defrayal of costs of accommodation, equipment, etc.).
• Recent audio recording (link).
• Two international travel quotes (from internet portals, travel agencies, etc.) as proof of particularly low-fare travel.

Deadlines

Applications should be submitted six weeks before the start of the project. Requests may be considered at short notice, if need be, after a telephone consultation with Goethe-Insitut’s Music Division.

For more guidelines, view the original call here.