WAYS Towards Fair and Sustainable International Partnerships

About the Open Call

The German Federal Cultural Foundation has launched the WAYS – Towards Fair and Sustainable International Partnerships program to enable cultural institutions in Germany to find new partners in non-European countries and implement long-term artistic projects. The program fosters fair and sustainable collaboration, with partners jointly defining terms and developing artistic projects equitably. WAYS comprises three funds: the Initiation Fund, the Fellows-at-Large Fund, and the Tandem Fund. The Initiation Fund supports international research projects lasting up to nine and a half months, dedicated to exploring collaboration opportunities, familiarizing with potential partners, and initiating long-term partnerships. This phase involves in-person visits, dialogue, workshops, and the joint drafting of a Roadmap of Collaboration. It culminates in a joint application for subsequent funding through the Fellows-at-Large Fund or the Tandem Fund. At least 60 initiation projects will be financed with up to 27,000 euros per project, totaling 1.62 million euros. Following successful Initiation Fund participation, organizations can apply for the Fellows-at-Large Fund, which finances two-year work visits (fellowships) for artists to carry out artistic projects and test innovative forms of fair and sustainable collaboration. This fund supports fellows from non-European countries working in Germany, or vice-versa. At least 12 fellowships will be financed with up to 248,000 euros each, totaling 2.976 million euros. The Tandem Fund finances four-year partnerships between German and non-European cultural institutions or independent groups for joint artistic projects, emphasizing equitable and sustainable working relations and exchange. At least 12 transcontinental tandems will be financed with up to 1.6 million euros per partnership, totaling 19.2 million euros. The program also includes accompanying events such as a World Summit in 2027 (hybrid, with Germany as primary venue), conferences, working groups, and an international academy program for knowledge transfer and networking. The total program funding for 2023-2031 is 27.59 million euros.

What is Offered

The program offers funding for various stages of international artistic collaboration: up to 27,000 euros for research and partner-scouting in the Initiation Fund (at least 60 projects); up to 248,000 euros for two-year work visits in the Fellows-at-Large Fund (at least 12 fellowships); and up to 1.6 million euros for four-year artistic projects in the Tandem Fund (at least 12 partnerships). It also provides opportunities for networking, professional development through academies and conferences, and fosters discussions on fair and sustainable collaboration practices.

Requirements

Cultural institutions or independent artists' groups are eligible to apply for the Initiation Fund. Organizations focused exclusively on education, training, and academic research, cultural (umbrella) associations, solo artists, and researchers are not eligible. Applicants for the Initiation Fund can be based in Germany or a non-European country (especially Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Oceania, and Central-, South- and Southeast Asia). Subsequent applications for the Fellows-at-Large Fund or Tandem Fund are only possible if prior funding was received from the Initiation Fund. For Fellows-at-Large and Tandem Funds, only cultural institutions and independent groups based in Germany are eligible to apply (for the funding itself, though the partnerships are international).

How to Apply

Applications for the Initiation Fund can only be submitted online. The deadline for submissions is 1 October 2025, 12:00 p.m. CEST. Applicants are required to read the Funding guidelines and FAQs on the Initiation Fund before submitting. The link to the online application form is provided on the website. For technical problems, questions can be sent by email to antragssupport@kulturstiftung-bund.de or by calling +49 (0)345 2997 444. An online application service via Zoom is also offered on specific dates (September 4 and 10, 2025) for applicants to register and receive guidance.