Guest performances abroad

The creativity and commitment of amateur and aspiring young musicians are a vital element of the music scene in Germany. Amateur and “next-generation” ensembles that have already attracted notice with above-average musical attainments – whether in competitions or concerts – and are planning to perform abroad can apply to the Goethe Institute for a grant toward travel expenses. Grants are available for music projects abroad involving amateur and young vocal and instrumental groups of any size, makeup or genre – as well as for educational music projects.

N.B.: Projects already begun, i.e. for which (e.g. flight) reservations have already been made, are generally ineligible for funding. So before making any firm reservations, you should submit an informal application for so-called “advance project commencement”, along with two travel expense estimates, at least six months before the project begins, if possible. Acceptance of an application for “advance project commencement” does not constitute a firm commitment to fund the project.

Prerequisites for funding:

• The candidate ensemble must demonstrate a high level of musicianship.
• Cultural significance of the project for the host country
• Coherent programming
• A recent audio recording of convincing quality
• An invitation from a partner in the destination country who should be financially independent of German institutions
• In the invitation the partner in the destination country must pledge to provide certain services, such as assistance in finding accommodation, transportation, publicity, use of rehearsal facilities, concert halls or the like.
• Intercultural exchange should be central to the project.
• As a rule, the Goethe Institute will not cover all travel expenses, but usually provides a grant to cover part of the travel expenses.
• Prior to application, the bulk of the project should already be financed by the participants’ own contributions and donations from the public and/or private sector.
• As a rule, the Goethe Institute does not pay any fees to musicians in the category of “amateur or young fledgling talents”. 
• Preference shall be accorded to projects in regions prioritized by Germany’s foreign cultural policy (Africa, the Middle East and non-European successor countries of the former Soviet Union). 
• Projects in countries bordering on Germany may be funded only if of outstanding cultural significance (e.g. Deutsche Kulturwochen (German arts festivals), national/supraregional festivals).

The following are NOT ELIGIBLE for funding:

• Projects in which professional musicians play a major part
• Music projects within the framework of programmes to promote ethnic German minorities in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe as well as Kazakhstan (to request funding, apply to the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute of Foreign Cultural Relations) in Stuttgart) 
• Benefit tours
• Concert tours in neighbouring countries with which an extensive cultural exchange already takes place even without public funding
• Brief/weekend trips
• Projects aimed at disseminating partisan, religious or ideological content.

Required documents:

• Detailed project description
• A recent audio recording
• Description of the ensemble incl. the musical director’s CV
• Detailed schedule
• Concert programme
• Invitation from the partner abroad indicating assistance it pledges to provide
• Cost/financing plan (use downloadable forms provided at the bottom of this page)
• Two cost estimates for travel expenses and, if necessary, for transportation of instruments
• List of participants, indicating each participant’s function, date of birth and place of residence
• Promotional material for the press
• Digital images

Applicants have no legal claim to funding from the Goethe Institute. Any funds provided shall be voluntary payments for projects closely aligned with the German Federal Government’s foreign cultural and educational policy objectives. If funding is granted, an 80% advance will be transferred first. The remainder will be disbursed upon receipt of the applicant’s accounting documents and final report.

Deadlines:

Applications for funding of concert tours and exchange projects may be submitted to the Goethe Institute at any time by German ensembles or by the German partners of foreign ensembles. The application must be submitted at least 6 months before the project is to begin. We recommend that large ensembles submit their applications even earlier, i.e. a year before commencement of the project.

Please note that applicants are required to keep us regularly posted of the progress and any changes to the planning of their project.

Contact:
Goethe-Institut e.V.
Bereich 37 - Musik
NACHWUCHS & LAIEN
Dachauer Str. 122
80637 München

phone: +49 89 15921 612
fax:     +49 89 15921 671
Musik2@goethe.de

Application form (German) 
ANBest-P  ("Allgemeine Nebenbestimmungen Projektförderung" - German)
BNBest-AA  ("Besondere Nebenbestimmungen des Ausw. Amtes" - German)