Call for applications: Goethe Talents Scholarship residence 2022

Composers, singers, songwriters and instrumentalists between the ages of 20 and 30 are eligible to apply.

Interested artists can apply here before 31 March.

An expert jury will select 10 talents for the sought-after spots in the programme and inform the applicants by the end of May.

This year’s focus will be on “studio times”, which will give participants the chance to engage in direct acoustic exchange in order to learn from each other. In addition, successful applicants will join the Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs programme at Kulturbrauerei in Berlin from 23 to 26 August.

The programme will feature international professionals who will share personal insights into their work and knowledge through workshops, case studies and talks. The residence will provide 10 places for talent from around the world, allowing them to network and collaborate across borders.

Pop-Kultur Festival and Goethe-Institut are offering a variety of activities to experience Berlin in the run-up to the festival. The activities include studio visits, intensive jam sessions, short traineeships in selected companies of Berlin’s creative industries, listening sessions and meetings with scholarship holders of Musicboard Berlin GmbH and former alumni of past Goethe Talents editions, visiting concerts, as well as many other activities.

In the summer of 2023, one of the Goethe 2022 alumni will get the chance to return to Berlin for a month-long Goethe residency. The aim of the residency is to support artistic and cultural exchange through the creation of a new piece of music in collaboration with a Berlin-based artist, which will then be presented in the official live programme of Pop-Kultur 2023.

Participants will get the following:

• The participation fee, accommodation, travel expenses, hospitality (per diem) for the period of 18 August to 29 August will be covered by the Goethe-Institut.
• Goethe-Institut will also book and pay for flights and help with visas.
• Additionally, Musicboard Berlin will give a free festival ticket plus access to Pop-Kultur’s networking area for professionals to all talents, organise accommodation (breakfast included), cover health insurance and public transportation within Berlin.

Requirements

• All participants will have to prepare a short input talk of approximately 15 minutes in advance about their experience in the music field thus far and about the music scene in their respective country.
• Advanced English skills are crucial to attend the programme, as there is no translation available (B2 minimum). Participants will be tested in advance by a local Goethe-Institut.
• Participants need work experience in the field of music and will have to provide proof of at least three projects they participated in.
• Participants should be willing to exchange and engage with a diverse group in the field of music production and performance.
• Participants should cover all additional expenses that might occur during their stay.
• All applications are for individual persons only. No accompanying persons can be sponsored or included in the programme.

Note: Participants who do not board their booked flights or cancel their programme on short notice are obliged to reimburse Goethe-Institut and Musicboard Berlin for any expenses accrued.

“If you have already gained some experience in your field, the Goethe Talents Scholarship will help you to reach the next level,” the organisers said. “We are particularly looking for talents from the Global South, the Middle East and (Central) Asia. Networking will be a big part of the experience.”

View the original call here.