Subsidies in September 2025: What's new?

For Batch #6 of the incubator, Wavelab is looking for innovative music, arts & media start-ups with a tech focus. We are looking for diverse teams of two or more people with a clear target group, a tangible prototype and a scalable, fundable idea. Prerequisites are a focus on the start-up during the programme and participation in three weeks of attendance in Munich - local residence is not required. The application deadline is 15.09.2025. Find out more

The Ministry of Culture and Media strengthens the international exchange of Hamburg's cultural and creative scene. Funding is provided for projects by Hamburg cultural practitioners abroad as well as international projects in Hamburg. From 2025, the new funding guideline will also take participation and diversity expertise into account - an additional 100,000 euros will be available for this, totalling 400,000 euros per year. Applications can be submitted until 15 September 2025. Find out more

The Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media supports international exchange projects as well as projects in the fields of young art and culture and children's and youth culture with its project funding. Funding is provided for innovative projects by freelance artists in all disciplines as well as children's and youth culture projects from the independent scene - developed and presented in Hamburg. The application deadline is 15.09.2025. Find out more

The Claussen Simon Fund for Art & Culture supports projects in Hamburg and the metropolitan region that enable young people to experience art and participate in culture. The focus is on the one hand on young artists from all disciplines with innovative individual projects and on the other hand on children and young people who are introduced to art and culture through participatory formats - regardless of their previous experience. Interdisciplinary approaches, new perspectives and participatory mediation are of particular importance. Applications can be submitted until 1 October 2025. Find out more

Workspace funding from nextMedia.Hamburg is aimed at start-ups and media makers and enables the free use of workspaces and meeting and workshop rooms at SPACE in the Speicherstadt historical warehouse district. The funding covers a period of six months. Applications can be submitted at any time. Learn more

Creative ideas are being sought for pilot projects that will help to make Hamburg's city centre more lively and diverse in the future. The aim of the programme is to develop concepts for the future of Hamburg's city centre and to implement initial pilot projects, prototypes and models. The programme is open to creative individuals as well as associations and institutions. The funding amounts to up to 2,500 euros. Applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

The Hamburgische Kulturstiftung supports art and cultural projects by up-and-coming artists in the fields of visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, film, photography and interdisciplinary as well as children's and youth culture projects. For example, performances, (music) theatre performances, exhibitions, concert series or festivals are supported. The maximum funding amount is 15,000 euros. Projects can be submitted all year round. Find out more

Hamburg Pride e.V. offers project funding. Anyone with project ideas that pursue the same goals as Hamburg Pride e.V. can apply. This includes, for example, the reduction of existing prejudices against the queer community or the (solidarity) support of victims of anti-homosexual violence. Applications can be submitted at any time. Application deadline: ongoing. Find out more

The non-profit Liebelt Foundation Hamburg supports projects and endeavours in the field of fine arts and contemporary art history. Funding is provided to individuals as well as non-profit associations and institutions, regardless of their public or private organisational form. Eligible applicants include artists, academics and students, as well as teachers, curators and art educators and the institutions they work for. Artists' and studio communities, working groups, project groups as well as organisations and institutions with a field of activity in line with the foundation's funding profile can also apply for support. Applications can be submitted until 15 September 2025. Find out more

The Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture and Sport, together with the MAK - Museum of Applied Arts Vienna - is awarding six scholarships for 2026/2027 to four freelance artists and two architecture students (from the second stage of their studies) or graduates immediately after completing their studies. The residency will take place at the Mackey Apartments in Los Angeles. The focus is on experimental work at the interface between art and architecture. The practice-oriented programme includes co-design at Schindler House, cooperation with universities and exhibition activities. Applications can be submitted until 9 September 2025 . Learn more

The Uwe Lüders Trust Foundation of the Sparkassenstiftung Lüneburg supports visual artists, regardless of their financial and social situation and age, who are not yet established on the art market and are not yet successfully represented by other galleries or institutions. The scholarship holders receive a monthly grant for a period of three months. In addition, the scholarship grants a free stay in a studio flat in the city centre of Lüneburg. Attendance of at least six weeks is a prerequisite for participation. At the end of the scholarship, there is the opportunity to realise an exhibition in Lüneburg in cooperation with the Sparkassenstiftung Lüneburg. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Three to four scholarships are awarded each year. Find out more

Production funding supports independent artists and performing arts groups in Germany in realising innovative projects. The aim is to develop new forms of expression and to reflect social issues artistically. Productions in performance, drama, dance, music theatre, puppet and object theatre, theatre in public space and contemporary circus, among others, are supported. Premieres and further performances should be planned. Professional artists and groups in Germany can apply. The funding amount is between €15,000 and €50,000. Public co-financing of at least 50% is required. The application deadline is 15.09.2025 . Find out more

The Fleetstreet residency programme gives young artist groups space and time to develop their own projects and try out new ways of working. The entire Fleetstreet Theatre and a residential studio are available to them for one to three months. With funding of 3,000 euros per month, research, experiments and presentations can be realised in a wide variety of formats - from showings to workshops. Applications can be submitted until 15 September 2025. Find out more

As part of its project funding programme, Musikfonds e.V. supports outstanding projects in all areas of contemporary music. It addresses all areas and interdisciplinary approaches to new music, from contemporary modernism, jazz and all varieties of experimental rock and pop music, electronic, free and improvised music to audio installations and sound art. Eligible expenses include fees, personnel costs, event and production costs and travel and accommodation costs. Applications can be submitted from 1 September until 30 September 2025 . Find out more

The Initiative Musik's artist funding programme is aimed at solo artists and bands who want to gain a foothold on the German and international music market. Possible funding areas are composition and conception, production and recording, sound carrier production, videos and content production, promotion and marketing and touring. The 71st funding round begins on 17 September - applications can then be submitted until 8 October 2025. Find out more

Up to twice a month, 105 VIERTEL organises concerts together with young talents and up-and-coming bands at venues of their choice. These events offer musicians the opportunity to gain stage experience, expand their reach and attract new audiences. As a sponsor, 105 VIERTEL assumes the role of organiser as well as all costs for the venue, GEMA, Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) and applicable taxes. The programme is aimed at up-and-coming musicians from Hamburg. Applications can be submitted at any time via the 105 VIERTEL contact form. Learn more

Since 2015, the German Bookstore Award has honoured owner-managed bookstores in Germany that offer a literary range or cultural events programme, pursue innovative business models or are committed to promoting reading and literature. Up to 118 bookshops are honoured each year. The endowed seals of approval are awarded in three categories: 7,000 euros for up to 100 bookshops, 15,000 euros for up to five outstanding nominees and 25,000 euros for the three best bookshops. Independent booksellers can apply online until 1 September 2025. Find out more

Exlibris is an independent book festival focussing on artists' books, design and publishing. The second edition will take place on 30 October 2025 in the auditorium of the HFBK Hamburg and offers a varied programme of workshops and lectures. We are looking for artists who publish their own books or zines, as well as designers who want to shed light on publishing as a process from a different perspective - or anyone who wants to share their bookshelf and their ideas on interdisciplinary publishing. Proposals can be submitted until 7 September 2025. Learn more

The German Literature Fund awards working grants for the artistic development of professional German-language authors. The scholarships serve as an award and support specific literary work projects that demonstrate or promise above-average quality. The aim is to give authors a limited period of concentrated literary work without financial constraints. The funding amounts to 3,000 euros per month, with a maximum term of one year. Applications can be submitted until 30 September 2025. Find out more

The Ministry of Culture and Media promotes literary life in Hamburg and the work of Hamburg authors. The aim of the funding is to enable a diverse and ambitious literary life in our city, which offers Hamburg residents the opportunity to engage with literature and its current debates, creates spaces for discussion and encounters and facilitates working conditions for authors. Applicants can submit their applications throughout the year - up to two months before the start of each project.
Find out more.

Every year, the DDC AWARD 2025 honours outstanding design achievements and highlights the potential of design for economic, social and cultural transformation. The focus is on quality, vision and the courage to use design as a tool for change. Designers, entrepreneurs, agencies, developers, students, manufacturers and design-oriented start-ups can submit work created between 2023 and 2025 in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) by 15 September 2025. Find out more

Der Brand Lift des Design Zentrum Hamburg unterstützt junge Marken und Design-Unternehmen dabei, ihre Marktpräsenz zu stärken und neue Vertriebskanäle zu erschließen. In Workshops, Coachings und einem Reallabor werden Maßnahmen wie E-Commerce-Kampagnen, Pop-up-Stores oder Messeauftritte erprobt, um eine nachhaltige Strategie zu entwickeln. Ergänzt wird das Programm durch eine Förderung von 1.500 Euro für die Überarbeitung von Medienpräsenz, Präsentations- und Vertriebsunterlagen. Ziel ist die Professionalisierung des Marketings, die Optimierung der Vertriebswege und der erfolgreiche Ausbau des B2B-Geschäfts. Bewerbungen können bis zum 26.09.2025 eingereicht werden. Mehr erfahren

The Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture and Sport, together with the MAK - Museum of Applied Arts Vienna - is awarding six scholarships for 2026/2027 to four freelance artists and two architecture students (from the second stage of their studies) or graduates immediately after completing their studies. The residency will take place at the Mackey Apartments in Los Angeles. The focus is on experimental work at the interface between art and architecture. The practice-oriented programme includes co-design at Schindler House, cooperation with universities and exhibition activities. Applications can be submitted until 9 September 2025 . Learn more