Emsländische Landschaft — a residency in Germany offering a €9,000 grant for a project on borders and identity
Today, borders are not merely lines on a map, but also encompass the experience of migration, language shifts, living across multiple cultures, and the constant search for a sense of belonging. The German Emsländische Landschaft grant invites artists to explore precisely these processes—through contemporary art, personal histories, memory, cultural shifts, and the transformation of border regions.
The programme offers a working grant of €9,000, an additional budget for preparing an exhibition and catalogue, as well as the opportunity to present the final project at the Kunsthalle Lingen in Germany in autumn 2027.
The theme of the open call is ‘Wendepunkte an der Grenze’ (‘Turning Points at the Border’). The organisers are interested in art projects related to borders as spaces of conflict, identity, cultural exchange, division and new forms of coexistence. Particular attention is paid to the Emsland region and Grafschaft Bentheim on the border between Germany and the Netherlands, where a close connection between the two cultures has historically developed.
Who is eligible for the grant
Applications are open to international professional artists and collectives working in various fields:
— painting;
— graphic art;
— photography;
— media art;
— performance art;
— sculpture;
— interdisciplinary practices.
There are no age restrictions. Applications are open not only to graduates of art universities, but also to artists without a relevant degree, provided their work demonstrates a high level of professionalism and artistic development.
How the grant works
The grant involves a three-month working period between January and June 2027. Artists are free to organise their own working hours and may visit the region on short research trips – there is no requirement for continuous residence.
The organisers expect participants to be willing to engage with the regional context and explore the theme of borders in both local and international contexts.
The final results of the project will be presented in an exhibition at Kunsthalle Lingen.
What you need to apply
Applications must be submitted online as a single PDF file of up to 10 MB. The file must include: a CV, a portfolio, proof of residence, a description of the artistic project, and a work plan for the duration of the grant (up to 3 pages).
For many artists, the most challenging part may be articulating the project idea and structuring a realistic work timeline. However, the organisers are not interested in academic language, but in a clear connection between your practice, the theme of borders, and how you plan to develop the project within the framework of the grant.
Why this is a good opportunity
Emsländische Landschaft is a rare example of a European grant programme where the theme of borders is explored simultaneously as a political, cultural and human experience. This makes the programme particularly relevant for artists working with themes of memory, identity, language, migration, territory and social change.
An additional advantage is the flexible format of participation: the programme allows participants to combine research, travel and their own artistic practice without the need to be in residence at all times.
For artists for whom not only funding but also the institutional context is important, the opportunity to exhibit at a German Kunsthalle and the publication of a catalogue represent a significant professional advantage.
The deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
