Musikfonds - Project Funding

Musikfonds backs artistic projects in contemporary and experimental music that take place in Germany — concerts, tours, festival programmes, unusual performance formats. It covers artistic fees at a reasonable level, with a floor of €300 per concert, other project staff costs, event and production costs, and travel and accommodation at federal rates. It will not fund purely audio or video productions, charity events, competitions, educational or university projects, trips abroad, or instrument and equipment purchases, and the project has to happen inside Germany.

Applicants must be based in Germany. There are two regular routes: the main programme for requests between €3,001 and €50,000, and a small-project route capped at €3,000 for projects whose total costs stay under €10,000. Since 2024 that smaller route has concentrated on rural and structurally weak regions, and from 2026 on work in public space too, with at most 50 such awards a year.

At least 10% co-financing is required and it must be real money: other public funding, your own cash, third-party grants or sponsorship, or ticket and participation income. You have to evidence it before the contract is drawn up. Projects already supported by the BKM or by a body it permanently funds cannot also take Musikfonds money.

Applications are online only. The main programme has fixed deadlines with decisions from the Board of Trustees roughly two months later; small-project decisions come within two to three weeks. Guidance notes are fullest in German, though English instructions are published. There is no entitlement to funding, and published assessment criteria are limited.