Berlin Visual Arts Residency

Before you apply, make sure:

• you are eligible
• your project and plans fit well with the purpose of the residency
• you know what information to include in your application.

To speak to an adviser about your application:

• book a time online
• email funding@creativenz.govt.nz

The Berlin Visual Arts Residency was established in 1999 and is delivered through the International Studio Programme at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin.

The purpose of the residency is to enable a New Zealand visual artist to:

• work on an approved project
• undertake professional development
• develop their potential through exposure to new cultures and new ideas
• act as an ambassador and increase awareness of New Zealand visual arts in Berlin

To apply, you must:

• be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• have a strong national reputation as a visual artist, which means you have:
  • received critical acclaim for your work, or
  • completed a body of work acknowledged for its artistic excellence
• be available to base yourself in Berlin between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025.

Previous recipients of the residency are Peter Robinson, Michael Stevenson, Ronnie van Hout, Mladen Bizumic, Sara Hughes, Alicia Frankovich, Ben Cauchi, Greg Semu, Oscar Enberg, Biljana Popovic and most recently Ella Sutherland.

The residency is for up to 12 months, between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025.

Creative New Zealand provides:

• a stipend of NZD $45,000 to be used for:
  • living costs whilst on the residency
  • new work costs
  • travel to Berlin
  • travel and health insurance
• a one-bedroom 60sqm apartment in the Friedrichshain district of former East Berlin
• the studio and administration fee for the International Studio Programme at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, which includes a contribution towards the costs of an exhibition, its promotion, and a publication. 

Any other costs must be met by you.

The International Studio Programme provides:  

• a studio
• advice on your projects
• curatorial support
• workshops and technical infrastructure
• an exhibition
• participation in an open studio event
• publishing support
• contact with international curators, critics, publicists, theorists, gallery owners and collectors
• connections to international institutions, projects, and exhibitions
• seminars, talks and readings.

The International Studio Programme at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien is one of the largest and most prestigious international residency programmes. You can read about the International Studio Programme at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien website (link).

Please note, you must have health insurance throughout your stay in Germany.

• Activities already funded by another Creative New Zealand funding programme or initiative. For instance, Arts Grants, Global Digital Research Fund or Global Digital New Work Fund.
• Activities another Creative New Zealand funding programme or initiative is designed to support
• Retrospective or ongoing costs
• Purchase of capital items
• Duplication of funding from other government agencies
• Core education resources and activities that are part of the curriculum or a course of study in New Zealand, including early learning, school, or further education
• Game design, fashion design and commercial design
• Some film and screen activity

For more detail, see Guidelines - What we don’t fund

Register or sign into your Creative New Zealand Portal account. 

Create your proposal in Microsoft Word or PDF format, using the headings listed in the "What to include in your application" section below.

Upload your proposal and support material to the application form in the Creative New Zealand Portal.

Submit the application before 1pm, Friday, 22 September 2023.

To speak to an adviser about your application

• book a time online
• email funding@creativenz.govt.nz

For technical help using your Creative New Zealand Portal account or the online application form

• email portal@creativenz.govt.nz

If you have access needs or require additional support to use the CNZ portal

• email portal@creativenz.govt.nz
• phone 0800 CREATIVE (273 284).

Create your proposal in either Microsoft Word or PDF format, using the headings below. In it, describe your proposed project and professional development activities, your experience, and provide relevant support material which can include links to websites and video.

Describe:

• the project you plan to complete during the residency
• the kaupapa or artistic aims of the project
• how, when and where you will deliver the project
• why being based at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien and in Berlin will be significant for the project

Professional development

Describe:

• the professional development activities you wish to pursue during the residency
• why being based at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien and in Berlin will be significant for your professional development

Your experience

Describe:

• your experience as a visual artist
• why being based Künstlerhaus Bethanien and in Berlin makes sense for you at this point in your career
• your experience giving floor talks or participating in seminars and panels
• any other skills or talents that may be relevant for the residency, such as speaking German or previous ambassadorial roles and responsibilities

Support material

Include in your application:

• your full artistic CV 
• letters of recommendation or support from up to two relevant referees, which comment on:
  • your proposed project
  • your suitability for the residency
  • how the residency will help develop your practice as an artist
• examples of previous work or indicative samples of proposed work (if you have a website, you can provide a link to it)
• a timeline that details the phases of your project, if relevant

After the round closes, Creative New Zealand staff double check your application is eligible and record information about the activities in your project.

Your application is then sent to a panel of peer assessors. We bring the panel together to discuss the proposals and recommend a shortlist.

A shortlist is presented to the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, with the option of Creative New Zealand nominating a preferred candidate.

The final decision on who to invite is made by the Künstlerhaus Bethanien.

The panel will consider your proposal against the following criteria when making their recommendation.

Idea and viability

We look for the following indicators:

• The artistic aims of the proposal are compelling and clearly expressed
• The proposal is realistic and well planned.

Alignment with the residency

We look for the following indicators:

• There is a clear link between the proposal’s outcomes and the Künstlerhaus Bethanien International Studio Programme
• The artist has sufficient experience to deliver the ambassadorial and cultural aspects of the residency.
• There is a clear benefit for the artist’s career through this opportunity.

We will let you know the result of your application on 1 November 2023. The name of the successful applicant will be published on our Results page.

If your application is successful, we’ll contact you about your:

• Funding agreement
• Payment details
• Reporting requirements
• More information about the residency and your contact at Künstlerhaus Bethanien