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South Africa

Culture

Library Jams Episode 9 at LAPA SIO © Thabang Radebe

Library Jams Episode 9 at LAPA SIO © Thabang Radebe

We promote cultural exchange, education and social discourse

We foster bilateral cultural exchange programs between Germany and South Africa. We initiate film series, exhibitions, concerts, seminars and festivals, always with the goal to facilitate artistic production, reception and reflection involving actors from both countries.

Funding for Arts and Culture

With its worldwide calls for proposals and residency programs, the Goethe-Institut opens up a space for new perspectives in which artists and cultural workers can pursue their projects free of economic pressure and establish and deepen lasting contacts.

Goethe-Institut Funding for Arts and Culture. Image:HGAA 2024 - I was her and she was me and those we might become 1 - Kitso Lelliott © Kitso Lelliott by Henri Perrot © Kitso Lelliott by Henri Perrot

International Coproduction Fund

Project Funding

With the ICF, we support co-productions worldwide that arise from collaborative and dialogical work processes between professional artists in the fields of music, dance, theater and performance.

Convocatoria en alemán e inglés

International Coproduction fund | Key Visual/Artwork © Synaesthesik (Ginna Mora) © Synaesthesik (Ginna Mora)

Imagining Impacts

Research on Cultural Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa

The significance of cultural relations, along with artistic and heritage practices, is widely acknowledged. However, there is limited research specifically addressing this within Sub-Saharan Africa. Imagining Impacts is a research initiative undertaken by the Goethe-Institut South Africa and the University of Cape Town’s African Centre for Cities, aimed at filling this research gap.

Imagining Impacts: Research on Cultural Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa    

Calling All Documentary Filmmakers!

Encounters 2025 Festival Dates and Submission Call Announced

Encounters South African International Documentary Festival invites submissions for its 27th edition, happening June 19-29, 2025, in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Encounters 2025 Festival Dates and Submission Call Announced © Encounters 2025 © Encounters 2025

THE GOETHE-INSTITUT PROJECT SPACE (GPS) PROJECT GRANT 2025

The call for applications for the Goethe-Institut Project Space (GPS) grant is now closed. Thank you to all who entered!

The GPS programme grants seed funding of up to R 105.000 per project to four artistic projects that are realised in rural and peri-urban parts of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini between February and November 2025.

GPS website newsletter-teaser 2025 © Eugene Alberts © Eugene Alberts

Watch this space for upcoming events!

Inhabiting the Library

The Library-Gamebox-Hub invited proposals for the use of its physical space and infrastructure to host projects, workshops, team meetings, reading groups, and other ideas that expand the possibilities of the space. Concepts were based on the practical use of the Library-Gamebox-Hub.

Possible formats include talks, podcast, workspace, photography studio, rehearsal space, and venue for listening sessions, book launch, script readings, meetings, etc.

A performance in the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg Library © Earl Abrahams © Earl Abrahams

Cultural Exchange

The Goethe-Institut South Africa deals with many topics and issues, including critical ones. Relevant topics are discussed and debated both locally and globally in various formats and offerings.

Imagination Night - Women Music Media © Shirin Motala © Shirin Motala

Arts, Music and Film

The Goethe-Institut strives to support local arts and culture. Discover our programs, events, and initiatives designed to inspire, challenge, and connect. 

Library Jams @ Goethe Institut: Spha Mandalose © Thabang Radebe © Thabang Radebe

Media & Technology

Discover captivating projects that resonate with your passion for media and technology. Our focus spans across the realms of Gaming, Podcasts, and Robotics.

Nao Roboter in Residenz @ Goethe-Institut Johannesburg © Brian Mojalefa © Brian Mojalefa

Projects

Goethe-Institut Project Space

GPS website newsletter-teaser 2025 © Eugene Alberts © Eugene Alberts

Henrike Grohs Art Award 2024

Call for Applications: Henrike Grohs Art Award © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Sustainable Together

Sustainable Together @ Goethe-Institut @ Goethe-Institut

Jams and German Films

Library Jams

The Goethe-Institut always strives to support local arts and culture, soLibraryJamsaims to create performing and income-generating opportunities for artists in a safe environment - while simultaneously producing fresh digital content.

LibraryJams: Msaki @ Thabang Radebe @ Thabang Radebe

Streaming platform

Goethe on Demand

On Goethe on Demand, the streaming platform of the Goethe-Institut, we present a variety of online movies, film festivals and film series that can be streamed from home. More information can be found here. The movies are presented in original language with subtitles. They are accessible online and free of charge after registration.

Goethe on Demand (Key Visual): Scene from the film "The Ordinaries". © Bandenfilm © Bandenfilm

German Films

Film archive

Our Film archive offers approximately 600 German feature films and documentaries (with various subtitle languages). Cinemas, film festivals, cultural and educational institutions are welcome to borrow them free of charge for non-commercial purposes. We look forward to receiving your request.

The image shows several men looking at a film strip together. Photo (detail): © Stefanie Schulte Strathaus ©Goethe-Institut

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