The aim of Musikfonds e.V. is to promote contemporary music of all genres in all its diversity and complexity. The Music Fund focuses on highly ambitious music that understands art as an end in itself, as an existential-creative necessity or consequence of an indispensable will to express itself and is not commercially oriented. With radiance and depth, it is independent, forward-looking and experimental, ahead of its time and visionary, explosive, controversial, provocative and thus also formative for established, economically viable parts of the music business. Musikfonds e.V. supports avant-garde music of all genres, including new music and contemporary modernism; jazz and improvised music; free music and Echtzeitmusik; electronic and electro-acoustic music; experimental hip-hop, pop and rock; radical trends in DJing and dance music; audio installations and sound art. 

With its measures, Musikfonds e.V. also addresses all genre-spanning intermediate areas and interdisciplinary approaches of current music production from subculture to high culture. 

In accordance with its statutes, Musikfonds e.V. supports outstanding projects in all areas of contemporary music that are characterized by their quality, make an exemplary contribution to the artistic development of music and, when viewed together, make the overall national significance of the funding visible. In addition to project funding, other funding programs (e.g. temporary scholarships or scholarship-type funding) can also be awarded. 

Natural and legal persons, i.e. artists, musicians, composers, bands or ensembles of all sizes as well as institutions are eligible to apply. Musikfonds e.V. primarily supports the professional, independent music scene. This does not exclude the inclusion of amateurs; however, purely amateur music projects are excluded from the application process.

Applicants must be based or reside in Germany. International collaborations are possible and encouraged. However, funded projects must be realized with a focus in Germany and have a clearly recognizable connection to Germany.

The fund supports temporary projects with a maximum of EUR 50,000 or grants within the framework of the respective programs. Permanent funding (regular or institutional funding) is excluded. Funding for purchases (e.g. of instruments) is also excluded. In exceptional cases or as part of special programs, funding for multi-year projects is possible. In these cases, the funding must be strictly limited to a maximum period of three years, whereby the funding may not exceed EUR 50,000 per year. 

Funding is generally granted in the form of fixed-amount financing. The funding should be used in such a way that additional private and/or public funding sources are tapped. Co-financing is mandatory, especially for higher funding amounts (from EUR 25,000).

Projects for which funding is requested must not have begun at the time of the funding decision by the Board of Trustees (or another jury appointed by the Fund). Musikfonds e.V. may not support projects that receive funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) or from an institution permanently funded by the BKM (e.g. Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Deutscher Musikrat, Initiative Musik, Fonds Darstellende Künste, Fonds Soziokultur). The funding of the Musikfonds e.V. from BKM resources is subject to the availability of the budgeted funds as well as any management measures and blocks. 

Within the framework of the triad of "work - interpretation - event / mediation" mentioned in the penultimate paragraph of these funding principles, the production of sound and image recordings can be a partial component of funding, especially in the case of innovative forms of documentation.

These funding principles are supplemented by funding regulations that contain information for applicants and relevant funding regulations. The funding regulations are adopted by the Board of Trustees of Musikfonds e.V. in agreement with the General Assembly. 

The Musikfonds focuses on general project funding. Special application conditions and objectives can be formulated for applications in specific areas. The triad "work - interpretation - event/mediation" is at the center of project funding. However, applications can also be submitted for sub-areas. 

Three funding rounds are planned per year. 

There is no entitlement to funding.

1. Musikfonds e.V.’s funding programs are aimed at outstanding projects/applicants from all areas of contemporary music that meet the requirements of the funding principles. 

2. Natural and legal persons are eligible to apply. Applicants must be active in the field of professional contemporary music. This does not exclude the involvement of amateurs in funded projects; however, purely amateur music projects are excluded from the application process. 

3. Applicants must be based or reside in Germany. International collaborations are possible and encouraged. However, funded projects must be realized with a focus in Germany and have a clearly recognizable connection to musical life in Germany.

4. Applications for the Music Fund's project funding program must be submitted by 31st January, 31st May and 30th September. The projects for which funding is requested must not have started at the time of the funding decision (approx. two months after the application deadline), i.e. no expenditure must have been incurred or contracts concluded. The application deadlines for additional funding programs (e.g. scholarships or special programs) will be announced as part of the respective calls for proposals. 

5. Applications must be submitted online only via the online application system. 

6. An application is considered to have been submitted on time if it has been submitted online by the end of the day of the application deadline (6 p.m. CET at the latest). Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.

7. There is no entitlement to funding. Payments are only made after a contract has been concluded. 

8. The prerequisite for project funding is the existence of a balanced cost and financing plan. Co-financing (in an appropriate amount) is mandatory for applications of large fundings of EUR 25,000 or more. 

9. Musikfonds e.V.’s funding program supports a maximum of EUR 50,000. Musikfonds e.V. does not support projects that receive funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) or from an institution permanently funded by the BKM (e.g. Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Deutscher Musikrat, Initiative Musik, Fonds Darstellende Künste, Fonds Soziokultur).

10. In particular, the following is eligible for funding: Artistic fees in an appropriate amount, project-related personnel costs, travel and accommodation costs in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act (BRKG) and production costs. In addition, the General Auxiliary Provisions for Project Funding (ANBest-P) apply. 

11. In particular, the following is not eligible for funding: charity events, competitions and procurement measures (e.g. instruments, electronic equipment, furniture). 

12. It must be ensured that the funded projects are carried out within the framework of free democratic fundamental rights and that no inhuman, anti-constitutional or criminal content is disseminated in the course of project implementation. In the event of non-compliance, the funding can be subsequently withdrawn and reclaimed.

13. Permanent funding (regular or institutional funding) is excluded. In exceptional cases or as part of special programs, funding for multi-year projects is possible. In these cases, the funding must be strictly limited to a period of three consecutive years, whereby the funding may not exceed EUR 50,000 per year.

Four short texts are required to describe your project proposal. In these four texts, try to explain the artistic concept and formal structure of your project (as easy to understand as possible).

• Short description of the project (max. 1000 characters)
  Please describe the core of your project as specifically and concisely as possible. Please use the typical "W-questions" as a guideline: What? Who? When? Where? 
• Project objectives (max. 750 characters) 
  What is the intended impact of the project? Question: Why? What for?
• Target Audience and Publicity Measures (max. 500 characters)
  Which audience do you aim to reach and what publicity measures do you intend to undertake?
• Rationale for funding (max. 300 characters) 
  What is particularly worthy of support in your project? What is the potential for innovation? What is the unique selling point?

You have the option of uploading music samples in the form of web links in the application form (max. 5 links, ad-free, preferably bandcamp/soundcloud or dropbox/google drive). Do not link folders with multiple files, but present 1 music sample per link. 

Please briefly describe the music samples and their relation to the project in the application form (e.g. names of the musicians involved, year of recording, title of the work). Even if there are no music samples for the requested project itself, there should be a clear reference to it (participating artists).

The application must be accompanied by 3 documents in the form of uploads (PDF, max. 5 MB/file):

• Detailed description of the project (max. 5 pages)
• Venue certificate(s) or letter(s) of intent from the venue(s) 
• Each venue listed should be supported by a letter of intent. Only one file can be uploaded, please combine multiple LOIs into one PDF document.
• Short biographies of participating artists/ensembles/bands 
• The short biographies of all participating artists/ensembles/bands should not be longer than one paragraph each. You may provide links to the personal websites of the participating artists/ensembles/bands.

The use of the budget template provided by the Musikfonds in the application tool is mandatory. 

To prepare your application, we recommend that you use the demo template (see Downloads). It has the same structure as the budget in the application tool.
Please pay attention to coherence/plausibility of your budget. A clear and transparent breakdown of income and expenses will facilitate the evaluation of your application.