Martin Roth-Initiative for At-Risk Artists and Cultural Practitioners (Germany)

Deadline: 11-Sep-2026

The Martin Roth-Initiative (MRI) supports at-risk artists and cultural practitioners worldwide by providing temporary relocation opportunities in partnership with host organizations. The initiative enables participants to continue their artistic and socially engaged cultural work in a safe environment while promoting professional development, networking, and international collaboration.

Martin Roth-Initiative

The Martin Roth-Initiative (MRI) is an international protection and residency program that provides temporary relocation and financial support for artists and cultural practitioners facing threats, persecution, or unsafe living conditions.

The initiative helps participants continue their artistic and cultural work in a secure environment through partnerships with host organizations such as museums, theatres, festivals, cultural institutions, and other socially engaged organizations. In addition to financial support, the program promotes professional growth, international networking, and collaboration that strengthens artistic freedom and cultural exchange.

Program Overview

Program Name: Martin Roth-Initiative (MRI)

Program Type: Temporary Relocation and Residency Program

Eligible Applicants: At-risk artists and cultural practitioners worldwide

Application Requirement: Joint application with a host organization

Host Organizations: Museums, theatres, festivals, cultural institutions, collectives, and other socially relevant organizations

Funding Type: Monthly scholarship and additional support for eligible activities

Program Objectives

The Martin Roth-Initiative aims to:

• Protect artists and cultural practitioners facing threats or persecution.
• Promote freedom of artistic expression.
• Support an open society, democracy, and peace.
• Enable participants to continue their artistic and cultural work safely.
• Strengthen socially relevant artistic and cultural initiatives.
• Encourage international cooperation between artists and host organizations.
• Build long-term professional networks and cultural exchange.

Areas of Support

The initiative supports artistic and cultural work that contributes to:

• Freedom of expression.
• Democracy.
• Peacebuilding.
• Human rights.
• Open societies.
• Socially engaged artistic practice.
• Cultural dialogue.
• Community engagement.
• International cultural cooperation.

Projects should demonstrate clear artistic or cultural relevance and contribute positively to society.

Funding Benefits

Successful applicants receive comprehensive support that may include:

• Monthly scholarship throughout the residency.
• Individual financial support for language courses.
• Funding for professional training.
• Support for networking activities.
• Assistance for other approved professional development measures.
• Financial support for additional personnel at the host organization, where appropriate.
• Project consultation and professional guidance.
• Opportunities for networking and exchange with other scholarship holders and partner organizations.

The program provides funding through a monthly scholarship, although the exact scholarship amount is not specified in the available program information.

Role of the Host Organization

Host organizations are central to the success of the residency and are expected to:

• Provide a safe and supportive working environment.
• Offer professional supervision and mentoring.
• Support participants in continuing their artistic or cultural work.
• Facilitate professional collaboration.
• Encourage networking and knowledge exchange.
• Assist participants in integrating into the local cultural environment throughout the residency.

Eligible Host Organizations

Applications must be submitted jointly with an eligible host organization.

Eligible host organizations include:

• Museums.
• Theatres.
• Cultural institutions.
• Arts organizations.
• Festivals.
• Cultural collectives.
• Socially engaged organizations.
• Other institutions capable of providing appropriate supervision and professional support.

The host organization must be able to support the participant throughout the residency period.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be artists or cultural practitioners from anywhere in the world.
• Be actively committed to promoting peace, democracy, freedom, and an open society.
• Be experiencing threats, persecution, or unsafe living conditions.
• Lack access to a safe place where they can continue their work.
• Demonstrate a proven record of socially relevant artistic or cultural practice.
• Possess sufficient language skills to cooperate with the host organization.
• Submit the application jointly with an eligible host organization.

Eligible Applicants

The initiative welcomes applications from professionals working across various cultural and artistic disciplines, including:

• Visual artists.
• Performing artists.
• Theatre practitioners.
• Curators.
• Cultural managers.
• Writers.
• Creative professionals.
• Cultural researchers.
• Interdisciplinary artists.
• Other cultural practitioners whose work demonstrates social relevance.

Who Is Not Eligible?

Applicants may not be eligible if they:

• Apply without a host organization.
• Are not experiencing threats or unsafe conditions.
• Cannot demonstrate socially relevant artistic or cultural work.
• Lack the language skills needed for effective collaboration with the host organization.
• Do not meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Why This Initiative Matters

Artists and cultural practitioners often play a vital role in promoting dialogue, defending human rights, and strengthening democratic values. In many regions, this work can expose them to threats, censorship, or persecution.

The Martin Roth-Initiative provides a secure environment where participants can continue their creative work while expanding professional networks and collaborating with international cultural institutions. By supporting artistic freedom and cultural exchange, the initiative contributes to more resilient, inclusive, and open societies worldwide.

How the Program Works

The residency combines financial support with institutional collaboration.

Participants relocate temporarily to a host organization, where they receive professional guidance and opportunities to continue their artistic practice. Throughout the residency, participants engage with local cultural communities, build professional relationships, and strengthen their long-term career development through training, networking, and collaborative activities.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements.
2. Identify an eligible host organization willing to support your residency.
3. Develop a joint residency plan with the host organization.
4. Prepare documentation demonstrating your artistic or cultural work and its social relevance.
5. Demonstrate the risks or threats affecting your ability to continue your work safely.
6. Ensure you have the language skills necessary for collaboration.
7. Submit the joint application according to the Martin Roth-Initiative guidelines before the application deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve your application:

• Clearly explain the risks or challenges you currently face.
• Demonstrate the social relevance of your artistic or cultural work.
• Develop a realistic residency plan with your host organization.
• Show how the residency will strengthen your professional development.
• Highlight previous artistic achievements and collaborations.
• Explain how the host organization will support your work during the residency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

• Applying without an eligible host organization.
• Providing insufficient evidence of threats or persecution.
• Failing to demonstrate the social relevance of your work.
• Submitting an incomplete residency plan.
• Ignoring language requirements for collaboration.
• Providing unclear information about the role of the host organization.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Martin Roth-Initiative?

The Martin Roth-Initiative is an international residency and protection program that provides temporary relocation opportunities for at-risk artists and cultural practitioners to continue their work safely.

Who can apply?

Artists and cultural practitioners from anywhere in the world who face threats or persecution and whose work promotes peace, democracy, freedom, and an open society are eligible to apply.

Do I need a host organization?

Yes. Applications must be submitted jointly with an eligible host organization that can provide professional support and supervision throughout the residency.

What organizations can serve as hosts?

Eligible host organizations include museums, theatres, festivals, cultural institutions, collectives, and other socially engaged organizations capable of supporting the residency.

What funding is available?

The initiative provides a monthly scholarship along with additional financial support for language training, professional development, networking activities, project consultation, and, where appropriate, support for additional personnel at the host organization.

Is the scholarship amount specified?

The available program information confirms that funding is provided through a monthly scholarship, but it does not specify the exact scholarship amount.

What are the main goals of the initiative?

The initiative aims to protect at-risk artists, safeguard artistic freedom, strengthen socially relevant cultural work, promote international collaboration, and support open societies, peace, and democracy.

Conclusion

The Martin Roth-Initiative provides a vital opportunity for at-risk artists and cultural practitioners to continue their work in a secure and supportive environment. Through temporary relocation, financial assistance, professional mentoring, and collaboration with host organizations, the initiative helps protect artistic freedom while fostering international cultural exchange, professional development, and socially engaged creative practice that promotes peace, democracy, and open societies.

For more information, visit Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations.