Music Cultures

Funding is provided for performances by the respective current music culture ensembles. The organisers make the arrangements for the concerts independently with the ensembles.

Municipal and non-municipal organisers from the member cities of the NRWKS.

There are no application deadlines. However, applications should be submitted to the NRWKS six weeks before the planned start of the project, if possible.

The performances are subsidised with a grant of 50 % of the fee (excluding incidental costs).

If three or more concerts are applied for at the same time in one calendar year (01.01. - 31.12.), the subsidy increases to 60% of the fee from the third concert onwards, if the performances are spread over the calendar year in one city and relate to several bands. Multiple performances by the same ensembles do not fall under this increased funding.

The funding is applied for per performance. From the third funding application onwards, the organiser applies for a subsidy of 60% instead of 50% of the concert fee.

The concert fees can be found in the current catalogue.

The project must fit into the NRWKS "Music Cultures" funding programme and be located in one of the NRWKS member cities.

In addition, the project must be open to the public. Exceptions apply to internal school events.

The project must not have been started by the time the grant is confirmed. This includes public relations work, conclusion of contracts, awarding of contracts and payments.

Funding is not provided for parties and organisations that pursue a profit-making objective.

Applications must be submitted via the NRWKS funding portal.

An additional cost and financing plan must be uploaded to the funding portal for all projects with a total volume of more than 5,000 euros.

Please note whether further documents, e.g. letters of recommendation or letters of approval from other funding bodies, need to be uploaded to the funding portal for the application.

The application must also be sent by post.

Ensembles that focus on non-European musical traditions or represent a fusion of ethnic music with Western styles/directions may apply for inclusion in the "Music Cultures" performance network.

Applications are generally open from 01 February to 31 March for the season after next at the time of announcement.

Up-to-date information on the application period will be published on the websites of the two NRW Kultursekretariats and in the NRWKS newsletter (only in German), which you can subscribe to >>here.

The "Music Cultures" advisory board, consisting of more than 20 musicians and event organisers as well as representatives of other institutions with experience in world music, selects the ensembles for the season after next at the time of the call for applications.

The Music Cultures Dialogues are an important and experimental component of the Music Cultures Performance Network. In this way, the NRWKS supports a temporary, intensive exchange between musicians from NRW and artists from Germany or abroad, in which musical paths of intercultural encounter and the testing of new artistic approaches are explored.

As a rule, NRW musicians meet with up to three artists from abroad.

In workshops lasting several days, the dialogue partners engage in an intensive exchange of ideas and gain both techniques and inspiration for joint musical ideas.

At the end of this exchange of work there will be a first public performance in a member city of the NRW KULTURsekretariat.

The process is financially supported by the NRWKS and accompanied scientifically and organisationally. A further two to three funded performances were to follow in the member cities of the NRWKS. Concerts are funded with 50% of the fee.

The dialogue projects are advertised publicly - usually in spring.

Up-to-date information about the call for applications is published on the website and in the newsletter, which you can subscribe to >>here.

Musicians with experience in musical exchange can apply. In addition to a description of the intercultural dialogue and its aims, the names and short biographies of all participating artists must be given. A general cost calculation must also be submitted.

If necessary, they present their ideas to the Music Cultures Advisory Board.

If approved, the concept and cost calculation will be adapted if necessary and will result in a formal funding application, which must be submitted via the digital funding portal of the NRW KULTURsekretariat. Early commencement of the programme (without entitlement to subsequent funding) is deemed to have been granted upon receipt of the application by the NRWKS by post.

The project starts with a conceptual exchange between the participating artists, continues with three to five-day compact workshops with rehearsals and ends with a public concert in a member city of the NRWKS.

Subsequently, further concerts can be applied for.