Funding Guidelines

Funding is provided for development processes. Over a period of eight months, disabled artists and cultural professionals (mentees) are accompanied and advised by an experienced artist or cultural professional (mentor) on matters relating to their artistic and professional career.

The mentees select their mentors independently based on criteria that are especially relevant to their career development goal. All arrangements between mentees and mentors must be made independently before the application is submitted. In a binding letter of intent, the mentors declare that, should their application be approved, they will advise their mentees in at least six two-hour talks. 

The mentees receive a grant that offers them the necessary freedom to devote more time to the development process, for which funding has been provided. The German Federal Cultural Foundation reimburses the mentees’ access costs incurred through participating in the mentoring programme (see 3. Funding Amount). The grant is intended to facilitate the mentors’ advising and coaching services, their own qualification and network-building, and participation in the Foundation’s academy programme. The mentors receive compensation for their efforts (see 3. Funding Amount). 

The programme also includes the mentees’ participation in the „pik” academy programme offered by the German Federal Cultural Foundation. It provides mentees with qualification and networking opportunities and is open to the mentors as well. 
 

Artists or cultural professionals who identify as disabled and are interested in seeking leadership positions in their respective work contexts are eligible to apply as mentees. They must pursue an artistic activity at a professional level or work in an arts-related field, e.g. curation, dramaturgy or cultural education, and reside in Germany. The mentoring programme is specifically targeted at stakeholders with different professional backgrounds and levels of experience. Young professionals and career changers are generally eligible for funding as well. 

The German Federal Cultural Foundation awards grants totalling €4,000 to each mentee. It is paid out in equal monthly instalments over a period of eight months from the date of approval. Where necessary, the access costs are reimbursed by the German Federal Cultural Foundation after verification and on presentation of receipts (i.e. invoices), unless they can be claimed as an integration benefit under Title IX of the German Social Code (SGB IX) from the respective state or federal agency. The mentors receive a one-time gross payment of €1,200 for conducting at least six two-hour talks with their mentee. 

The mentor must be designated at the time of application. Applicants are required to use and complete the online application form for this programme, which can be found on the website of the German Federal Cultural Foundation. The application form is accessible and offers the option of submitting supplementary documents in video formats in spoken or signed German (German Sign Language or Signed German). A short general data sheet must be completed in writing. 

The following documents must be uploaded with the online application: 

• Brief description of one’s motivation for receiving mentoring in writing (max. two pages) or on video (max. five minutes). In particular, the following points must be addressed:  
  (i) What are your artistic, personal and political/institutional goals in connection with the “Mentoring Programme for Disabled Leadership”? 
  (ii) What questions and challenges would you like to work on and resolve during the process? What do you expect your chosen mentor to contribute to this, and what skills do they offer? What form of exchange are you aiming for? 
• Brief description of the mentee’s artistic background in writing (max. two pages) or on video (max. five minutes) 
• Letter of intent and a brief biography of the mentor in writing (max. one page) or on video (max. two and a half minutes) 

Video files must be supplied via an external download link. The link must be entered in the corresponding fields of the online application. 
 

Funding is awarded in three application rounds. The application deadline for the first round is 15 September 2023, for the second round, 15 May 2024, and for the third round, 13 December 2024. The time of application is based on the date the online form is submitted. Decisions on eligibility are based on only those documents uploaded prior to the application deadline. Incomplete or late applications cannot be considered. 

The selection of mentees is decided by the Executive Board in closed session based on the recommendations of an independent jury of experts. The dates of the jury sessions are scheduled approximately ten weeks after the respective application deadline and are announced with sufficient notice on the website of the German Federal Cultural Foundation.

Funding is awarded in three application rounds. The funding period is eight months from the date of approval. The decision on the first round of applications is scheduled for mid-November 2023. Upon approval, the mentoring can begin immediately and must be completed within eight months at the latest. 

The approval, payment and invoicing of the grant, as well as the proof and verification of usage and, if applicable, the withdrawal from the grant agreement and reclamation of the expended funding are governed by the provisions in the grant agreement, sections 23 and 44 of the German Federal Budget Code (BHO) and the General Administrative Regulations issued for this purpose, barring any deviations from the General Administrative Regulations as provided in these funding guidelines. Pursuant to BHO sections 91 and 100, the Bundesrechnungshof is entitled to carry out audits. The Federal Government Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and the Media and the Federal Office of Administration must also be granted audit rights in accordance with the funding notification sent to the German Federal Cultural Foundation. If the recipient fails to comply with the provisions of the funding agreement, the German Federal Cultural Foundation may demand full or partial repayment of the funds granted. 

These funding guidelines take effect on 8 April 2024 and are subject to change without notice.