About

The Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony (Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen) was founded in 1993 by the Free State of Saxony as a legal foundation under public law. It currently supports around 900 projects each year with a funding volume of more than 5 million euros. The foundation's work focuses on the free development of art and culture in the Free State of Saxony.

The Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony initiates, implements and supports projects in the fields of visual arts, performing arts and music, literature, film, socio-culture, industrial culture and interdisciplinary projects. The focus is on the promotion of contemporary art and culture and on projects of intercultural dialogue. The Foundation also awards scholarships and purchases works by visual artists for the Free State of Saxony. The Foundation is in constant dialogue with friends and partners in the Free State of Saxony, in the Federal Republic of Germany and in the neighbouring countries.

Scholarships for foreign artists

Foreign artists have the opportunity to participate in three different scholarship programs organized and supervised by the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony: The Scholarship for curators (Kuratorenstipendium), the translators' program (Übersetzerstipendium) and the Columbus Arts Exchange program (Austauschprogramm Columbus, Ohio).

Scholarship for Curators

The scholarship for curators is a cooperation between the Cultural Foundation and the GfZK Leipzig (Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst). The aim of the scholarship is to promote international cultural exchange, to research and present transcultural phenomena. It serves the purpose of mutual networking and the formation of sustainable collegial relationships between the scholarship holders, their countries of origin and the GfZK. The curators stay at the GfZK in Leipzig for one year and conclude their time with their own project.

The scholarship is addressed to young curators from a foreign country. The respective country or partner region will be communicated in the current call for applications. Good knowledge of the German language is required.

A women in front of the GfZK Leipzig — GfZK, Olaf Nicolai, Labyrinth, 1998, Photo: Sebastian Schröder

Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst (GfZK)

Translators' Program

With the European Translators’ Program, the Goethe-Institut, in cooperation with the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony, awards four work grants annually to literary translators from abroad. The six- to eight-week residencies take place in Dresden-Hellerau, Germany and the Cultural Foundation serves as both living quarter and workplace. In a tranquil and concentrated work atmosphere, the grant holders can devote themselves to a current project in German-language literature. Where possible, meetings with the authors being translated and/or visits to publishers in the region round off the residency.

The scholarship is directed at translators of German literature (novels, poetry and essays) who live outside Germany.

Exterior view of the apartment on the 1st floor

Living and working space in the apartment in Dresden-Hellerau

The scholarship includes a purse of 1,500.00 EUR.
The scholarship holders will also receive an additional allowance of 250.00 EUR for meals. Travel expenses will be borne by the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony.

The Cultural Foundation provides an apartment for the international translators: 50 square meters of living area including bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen. The apartment is located in a quiet area on the grounds of the Festspielhaus Hellerau in Dresden-Hellerau. During their residence, the scholarship holders are assisted by the Cultural Foundation's employees.

More information and application

Columbus Artist Exchange
Program

The Cultural Foundation has partnered with the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) to facilitate an annual artist exchange since 1994. Since then, 52 Saxon and 47 American visual artists were able to participate in the program. Every year, the GCAC offers two Columbus artists the opportunity to undertake a residency in Dresden, Germany. The artist exchange is intended to provide dedicated time for artistic research and production. The Arts Council covers travel expenses and awards a modest living stipend to support a residency of up to three months. Housing and access to working facilities/studio is coordinated by the State of Saxony. Likewise, the State of Saxony sponsors two German artists to travel to Columbus and GCAC provides housing, studio space and connections to resources. Currently, the Arts Council extends an invitation to apply for the exchange only to artists that have received an Individual Artists Fellowship in the Visual Arts or Media Arts (now discontinued) and are currently residing in Franklin County. Artists who have previously participated in any international experience by the Arts Council are not eligible to apply.