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South Africa

Cultural Funding

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

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.
 

Open Calls In South Africa

  • THE GPS 2026 JURY AND PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED

    The GPS programme grants seed funding of up to R 100.000 per project to three artistic projects that are realised in rural and peri-urban parts of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini between February and November 2026. 

    GPS Project 2026: Mohla-Monene © Mohla-Monene © Mohla-Monene

  • GOETHE-INSTITUT GALLERY 2026

    The Goethe-Institut Gallery Open Call is now closed.

    The Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg invited artists, curators and collectives to submit rough proposals for gallery interventions, exhibitions and experimental projects that spark debate which is reflective of the various current global topics affecting us in South Africa, the continent and beyond.

    An image taken of the Abafabazi Exhibition at Goethe-Institut Johannesburg © Thabang Taukobong © Thabang Taukobong

  • Open Call: 16 February – 13 March

    OPEN CALL: PLAYFUL OBSCURA (Second Edition)

    Arthouse Games Residency Africa 2026

    As part of the Goethe-Institut commissioned project, GamesConnect AFRICA, A MAZE., Goethe-Institut, and Leti Arts are pleased to announce an open call for the PLAYFUL OBSCURA - Arthouse Games Residency, a three-week artist residency will take place from 13 April – 1 May in Accra, Ghana. This residency is designed as a framework to support artists working within the field of arthouse games and playful media.

    Web header featuring the banner and partner logos for Playful Obscura Arthouse Games Open Call © Playful Obscura © Playful Obscura

Africa-Europe Partnerships For Culture

TheAfrica-Europe Partnerships For Cultureis a 30Mio. EUR programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the Goethe-Institut, Expertise France, Institut Francais, UNESCO and EUNIC Global. It aims to re-shape cultural cooperation, exchange, co-creation and dissemination within Africa as well as between Africa and Europe whilst promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.

Africa-Europe Partnerships For Culture: Southern Africa

Funded Projects

  • Goethe-Institut Project Space

    The "Goethe-Institut Project Space" supports artistic projects throughout South Africa.

    Kids in a field with flowers in Lesotho playing with a camera on a tripod. © Tseliso Monaheng © Tseliso Monaheng

  • Henrike Grohs Art Award

    In memory of Henrike Grohs, the Goethe-Institut and the Grohs family have initiated a 20,000€ prize dedicated to artists living and working in Africa.

    Call for Applications: Henrike Grohs Art Award

International Coproduction Fund

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.
 

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

Worldwide Funding Programs

  • Worldwide Arts funding and residencies

    The Goethe-Institut promotes art and culture in a variety of projects in Germany and abroad. You can search by genre, funding type and duration.

    Arts funding and residencies © Unsplash/Matthieu Comoy © Unsplash/Matthieu Comoy

  • Worldwide Awards and Funds

    With prizes and awards, the Goethe-Institut aims to honour outstanding cultural work and promotes international cultural exchange based on partnership and dialogue.

    Goethe-Institut Medal © Loredana Rocca © Loredana Rocca

  • Translation Programme

    Our translation funding programme supports the publication of books by German authors in other languages.

    Goethe-Institut translation funding - A lady sitting with her laptop, looking up thoughtfully    

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