In the present world, our outlook for the future often reflects uncertainty, pessimism, and resignation. This is unsurprising given that we live in a time of polycrisis: from wars and refugee migrations to climate change, economic challenges, and a growing loss of trust in democratic systems. In such an era, particularly the performing arts create opportunities to imagine new visions of the future. They broaden our horizons, open up new avenues for thought and action, and create space for designs, experiments, and alternative ideas about what is to come. In this way, the future can be understood as something that can be shaped. Against this background, we as ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS are continuing our Scholarships for the Performing Arts in 2026 and provide support to projects, conceptions, artistic inquiry, and research that creatively address the theme of “Future: Performing Futures in Uncertain Times” and that thereby develop new aesthetic forms of expression in dialogue with the unknown.
Seven scholarships of € 10,000 will be awarded. The scholarships are geared toward professional artists in all disciplines who live and work in Hamburg or Northern Germany (Bremen, Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern); artist collectives are also eligible. The scholarships aim to enable in-depth explorations, intensive artistic examinations, transdisciplinary and transcultural exchange, and novel collaborative approaches. The scholarships can be used for preparatory and investigatory efforts as well for the continuation or finalization of an existing project.
Please find the full call for submissions HERE. You can apply HERE. Applications are open until 26 April 2026.
Scholarship recipients will be selected by an expert jury.
Contact Person:
Sarah Steidl, Project Manager Art & Culture, steidl@zeit-stiftung.de
