The target group for funding by Musikfonds are musicians performing and creating free (non-commercially oriented) experimental contemporary music. Regardless of the musical genre, avant-garde concepts are the funding’s focus. 

The Musikfonds’ funding programmes are aimed at professional musicians, composers and sound artists beyond mainstream.am. 

All conceivable musical formats are eligible - the more innovative the better. 

Project funding focuses on the creation of new compositions, their rehearsal and public presentation (triad "work - interpretation - event"). Possible formats include individual concerts, concert series, installations, sound performances, tours, festivals, etc.

Permanent funding (regular or institutional funding) and funding for purchases (e.g. of instruments, technology) are excluded.

Within the framework of project funding, there are two possibilities:

• Short-term, so-called “small project funding” with a maximum application amount of 2.000 Euro and total project costs less than 10.000 Euro.
• Regular project funding with an application amount between 2.001 Euro and 50.000 Euro (maximum).

SMALL PROJECT FUNDING

Applications with a maximum application amount of 2.000 Euro can be submitted on six fixed deadlines per year, depending on the planned start of the project. 

Deadlines for 2023:

• 28.02. - for events in the period April/May 
• 30.04. - for events in the period June/July 
• 30.06. - for events in the period August/September 
• 31.08. - for events in the period October/November 
• 31.10. - for events in the period December 2023/January 2024

From 2024, the small funding programme will be restructured, the focus of this programme will shift to rural areas. Further information will be provided as soon as possible. Please subscribe to our newsletter in order to stay informed.

REGULAR PROJECT FUNDING

Applications for funding between 2.001 Euro up to a maximum of 50.000 Euro can be submitted on three fixed deadlines per year, depending on the planned start of the project:

• 31.01. - earliest possible project start date April
• 31.05. - earliest possible project start date August
• 30.09. - earliest possible project start December

The earliest possible start of the project depends on the date of the application (see deadlines). The end of the project is defined by the applicant. 

It is recommended to plan sufficient time after the end of the last event for final accounting matters. Please note that all orders, contracts, payments etc. need to be realized within the agreed project period. Funding by Musikfonds does not necessarily end at the end of a calendar year. A project period can therefore continue into the following year. 

The project period is determined for each individual project, usually it is several months up to 2 years, depending on your project’s requirement. Projects with a duration longer than 2 years will need special planning and justification.

The Musikfonds’ Board of Trustees decides on the project applications. The members of the Board of Trustees are proposed by the member associations of the Musikfonds and elected every three years by the General Assembly. 

The Board of Trustees consists of two groups of 10 members each. The two groups alternate so each trustee is involved in every second round of funding. The Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Trustees chair the meetings of the Board of Trustees.

The meetings of the Board of Trustees are not public and funding decisions are not justified.

Projects that have already been rejected by the Board of Trustees will generally not be approved, even in the small project funding category up to 2.000 Euro. 

We kindly ask applicants to refrain from resubmitting projects that have already been rejected.

Yes, it is advisable to secure different means of funding for a project, i.e. from private and/or public funding institutions (third-party funding). Please note that you cannot apply for funding for a project that has already started!

Co-financing is mandatory for applications over 25.000 EUR.

• The funding decisions for the large project funding (2.001 - max. 50.000 Euro) are usually communicated by e-mail approx. 2 months after the deadline.
• The funding decisions for the small project funding (up to a maximum of 2.000 Euro) are usually communicated by e-mail approximately 2 weeks after the deadline.

There will be no individual justificatopm for the funding decisions, also there is no right to funding.

The Musikfonds’ funding programmes are aimed at professional musicians, composers and sound artists of contemporary music. 

As a rule, professional musicians are defined by the ability to earn their living from their musical activities. Membership of the Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) and professional associations (DKV, DJU, DEGEM, etc.) are also good indicators. 

Applicants or applying organisations must have their place of residence or business in Germany. 

The focus of the project must be in Germany and the presentation of the project/results should include at least one public event.

Theoretically, yes. However, we recommend to concentrate on one project and to elaborate it as specifically and well-founded as possible. 
It is not realistic that an applicant will receive funding for more than one project in one funding round. 

Under certain circumstances, it may be an option to submit two different projects with different financial needs.

Yes, the submission of applications in English is possible.

Please read the information in the section Required Data.

The FP is binding with regard to the amount of the total expenditure; it is also mandatory to list all other funding for the project. If you are applying for funding from other funding institution for the same project, please ensure that the information is transparent and consistent.

The FP should sum up all expenses for the project in a comprehensible and transparent way; please avoid large lump sums. 
If significant changes are necessary after the funding has already been approved, the changes must be made in consultation with the Musikfonds. 

When entering the positions of the FP, pay attention to plausibility and comprehensibility and break them down or summarise them sensibly at appropriate points: How high are the planned fees per artist/concert? What is the scope of the commissioned composition (duration, voices)? What costs do you calculate per night in the hotel? etc. 

You can find an exemplary financing plan with further information on our website.

A minimum fee of 300 Euro per performance should be calculated for each artist. Further information on fee guidelines can be found in the document Hinweise zum Finanzierungsplan.

Position 2.2 of the financing plan refers to Eigenmittel that are brought into the project. This is money that you use from your own reserves for project expenditures. 

Eigenmittel must always be contributed in the indicated amount and you need to spend them before calling the funds by Musikfonds.  

As a rule, there is no set minimum amount for Eigenmittel, with the exception of recordings, i.e. video- or sound-only productions (see question "Can the production of recordings (only audio or video) be funded?").

Within the scope of "work - interpretation - event" mentioned in the funding principles, the production of recordings (sound and/or image carriers) can be a part of the funded project, especially for innovative formats. In this case, a contribution (Eigenmittel) of 25 percent of the total costs of the audio or video production must be included in the financing plan (position 2.2 of the financing plan). 

Studio projects without live performance have little chance of being funded. 

Journalistic formats (e.g. catalogues, book publications, essays) can be part of a project if they serve the aesthetic reflection of actual music content.

Geldwerte Leistungen (position 4. in the financing plan) are non-cash or other benefits included in the project. For example, you have technical equipment that is used for the project free of charge; or the rehearsals take place in your rehearsal room – thus no additional room/technical equipment needs to be rented. Or if one of the artists gets a travel grant from another funding institution (e.g. an embassy pays for the ticket directly) – that’s a geldwerte Leistung too. 

Generally Geldwerte Leistung applies to services/goods that are paid for by a third party, meaning you (the applicant) cannot provide proof of payment.

The more detailed your project planning, the better are its chances for funding. Please provide a thorough, plausible and realistic project and financial plan. 

You will need an Spielstättenbescheinigung (equivalent to a letter of intent) from the planned venues. The participating artists should be identified and know that they are involved in your project. Additional funding applications to other institutions should be listed in the application form. 

For example it is not ok to change the line-up (list of participating artists) after a project has been selected for funding. The Musikfonds should always be notified on any significant changes after the application has been submitted, e.g. if planned third-party funding (which was not yet secured at the time of application) has been approved.

An SPB is a letter from the planned venue stating that your event is welcome to take place on a specific date or within a planned time slot. Ideally, it also contains the terms and conditions of the venue. 

It is important that you do not sign any rental contracts, the SPB is rather a letter of intent.

Please make sure your project application is detailed and as complete as possible on submission. 

Venue certificates cannot be submitted subsequently. 

Updates regarding third party funding can be submitted later, please communicate these information asap. 

Incomplete and faulty applications will not be submitted to the Board of Trustees.

Please make sure not to start the project before you receive an answer to your application. There is no funding for ongoing projects. You will need the funding contract in order to start the project. 
Yet you have the option to apply for an early start (vorzeitigen Maßnahmenbeginn) once you received the approval from Musikfonds. That means you can begin the project before the project contract is signed (at your own risk).

Otherwise your project will officially start when your project contract is issued.

Any project-related activity that involves a payment obligation is considered a project start - e.g. issuing of orders (e.g. composition commission), signing contracts, booking travels, etc. 

Publicity measures or the advance sale of tickets for the planned event(s) may also only take place once the project contract has been signed or the early start (vorzeitiger Maßnahmenbeginn) has been agreed upon.

Please contact Musikfonds office within 4 weeks of receiving the approval of funding and let the team know via email at info@musikfonds.de if you accept the funding.

No. 

Before you officially start your project (e.g. book tickets, sign contracts or make any expenses), you have to contact Musikfonds and conclude the funding contract or apply for an early start (vorzeitiger Maßnahmenbeginn (VZMB)).

Before your project contract can be created, the following up-to-date information is required: 

• planned project period
• updated budget plan (using the Musikfonds template – example here)
• confirmation of third-party funding
• if applicable, updated line-up / list of artists, event date(s) + venue(s), project description

When submitting your updated project documents, please also let Musikfonds know when exactly (exact date of start/end) you will be putting the project into practice. It is important that you allow sufficient time for the preparation and follow-up (including accounting) of your project. 

The project period equals the time frame for the funding. It is essential to ensure that all project-related expenditure and income takes place within this contractually defined period. 
As a rule, the project period is several months up to 2 years; depending on your individual project planning. 

In case your project requires a longer time for realization, you can ask for an exception and project duration of more than 2 years; please note that this has to be justified and agreed upon with Musikfonds.

A project account is not obligatory, but recommended for easier project management. 

It is mandatory that the project funds are requested for transfer into a German bank and that the project leader has unlimited access to the account until the project is complete, i.e. until the proof of use (Verwendungsnachweis) has been checked and closed. 

If possible, the Musikfonds grants are awarded as fixed-amount funding in accordance with the statutes. That means a fixed amount is granted and does not have to be repaid - provided the funding is used verifiably according to the specifications of the contract; the correct use needs be provable. 

In the case of partial financing funding the grant covers the shortfall, so upon completion, the amount of the actual expenditure will need to be accounted for; in case requested Musikfonds funds exceed the amount of the actual expenditure, the difference must be restituted.
Projects with third-party funding, and for which the planned income or savings are expected to vary from the budget, can only be granted as partial financing funding. 

In both cases, the funding must only be used within the project period. They are only to be called for and used when all other available Eigenmittel and third-party funds (Drittmittel) have been exhausted. The public funds must be spent within 6 weeks upon call for funds (6-Wochenfrist).

After signing the project contract and provided all available EIgenmittel and third-party funds (Drittmittel) have been exhausted, the funds can be called for using a special form (Mittelabruf) 

Bank transfers are issued monthly on two fixed dates: on the 8th or 22nd of the month (i.e. the next working day if it happens to be a weekend). Please submit the completed form (Mittelabruf) digitally (Excel format) by the 1st or 15th of the month. Our team will run a preliminary check and let you know, if all is correct. Then you need to submit the Mittelabruf with you original signature by post.

The project funds can only be called for and spent within the contractually defined project period. Upon call you have 6 weeks to pay project related expenditures (6-Wochenfrist).

German law on grants stipulates that public funding is to be spent immediately, but no later than 6 weeks upon receipt. Funds that have not been spent within 6 weeks must be reimbursed (to Musikfonds) and can be called for again at a later date (within the defined project period).

So please make sure to request only the amount you need in the following 6 weeks. Alternatively, in the case of smaller fundings, (and if you can afford to) it is possible to settle payments in advance and request the funding amount shortly before the end of the project.

All significant changes to the project must be communicated in writing. 
This includes, for example, changes regarding the list of artists or participants, venues and event formats as well as changes affecting the contracting parties (legal form, change of address, etc.). 

Please inform Musikfonds immediately if the implementation of the project (or parts of it) is compromised. 

Yes, an update of the FP is possible and is explicitly recommended. Changes of more than +/-20% (to positions in the FP) require approval by the Musikfonds.

Yes, Musikfonds should be mentioned in all media referring to the project (e.g. posters, flyers, film products, invitations, websites, social media posts, press releases, etc.) with both the logo of the Musikfonds and the logo of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM). Prior to publication, print approval must be obtained from the Musikfonds. The logos and the instructions for use can be downloaded in the Templates and Regulations section.

A ZVN is due if your project does not end within a calendar year, but has a duration longer than until the end of March of the following year. 

In the ZVN, you will list all expenditures made in the previous year (cut-off date 31.12.) and submit a short report on the project's progress to date. Please refer to the ZVN fact sheet for more information. 

The deadline for submission is stated in the project contract.

An extension of the PZR is possible under certain conditions – it requires a comprehensible explanation. Please reach out to your contact person within the Musikfonds office as soon as you realize it might be necessary.

After you have effectuated all project activities (including payment of all project-related expenditures) within the defined PZR, you need to submit your proof of use by the agreed deadline (usually about one month after the end of the project period). 

The exact deadline can be found in your project contract.

The VN serves as a proof that the project was successfully realized in accordance with the original application and contract and that the funds were used in compliance with the contract, i.e. adequate,  efficient and economic use of funds within the contractually stipulated project period.

The deadline for submitting your VN is stated in the project contract. 

We recommend that you download the Musikfonds template when you start the project and fill it in continuously during the course of the project.

Please submit the digital version of the VN in Excel format on the agreed deadlline. This template consists of a six parts: 1. title page, 2. numerical proof of expenditure 3. numerical proof of income , 4. list of receipts, 5. report and 6. an overview of the project (participants, travels, hotels etc.). 
Part 2 + 3 numerical proof, is a tabular comparison of the TARGET values (planned expenditure and income according to the most recently updated financing plan) and the ACTUAL values (the actual expenditure and income). 

After a preliminary check your contact person at the Musikfonds will let you know if any corrections are necessary. Then you are asked to send the signed original documents by post including 1-2 copies of your existing advertising material (flyers, posters, etc.) for the project documentation.

The project manager is responsible for keeping the original receipts accessible and safe for the legal period of time; but at this point they need not be submitted with the proof of use. However, the Musikfonds reserves the right to request receipts (original by post or digital) in the course of the examination of your VN.

Yes, all expenses listed in the proof of use must be verifiable by means of invoices (or contract agreements) plus the corresponding proofs of payment (receipts for cash payments or bank statements).

The fees the project manager receives in the course of the project also have to be documented in the proof of use. You do this in the form of a personal receipt (Eigenbeleg). In this personal receipt (Eigenbeleg) the issuing party is also the bill-to-party, other than that, it should contain the same information as an invoice: 

• name & address of the recipient of the payment
• tax number
• personal receipt number
• amount received
• purpose of use: service rendered/relation to the project/period of performance
• information on value added tax
• confirmation of receipt of payment
• place, date and signature

Please reach out to your contact person at Musikfonds as soon as possible - i.e. before the end of the project - in case you realize that you cannot issue payment or provide proof of payment in time for the submission date.

The Musikfonds makes every effort to examine and verify your VN as quickly as possible. Due to high workload or other circumstances, the review may take several months (we strive to start the verification process no longer than 6-18 months after submission, yet this can vary depending on the staffing level at Musikfonds). 

Please note that you are bound by contract to keep all project-relevant documents and to submit them upon request, as well as to answer any questions that arise during the review process in a timely manner.