Open Call: Music Board Berlin
Musicboard Berlin in cooperation with HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts grants a a residency of four weeks to a Berlin-based interdisciplinary pop musician or duo in fall 2025. The residency in HELLERAU in Dresden offers an international, active-collaborative and interdisciplinary atmosphere. Beyond the work on own projects, HELLERAU’s internationally oriented residency programme offers its resident artists the opportunity to get in touch with the local scene as well as other resident artists working in the fields of contemporary dance, theatre, performance, music and media art. On site, the Musicboard resident is supported in the implementation of their project by an individual artist mentoring.
The residency in HELLERAU is intended for artists of all pop music genres. With the term »pop music« Musicboard refers to all genres of popular music as well as cross-genre or experimental pop music that cannot be clearly assigned to the categories of jazz or classical and new music.
The Musicboard residency programme intends to be accessible to everyone and as inclusive as possible. If you have questions about the accessibility and family-friendliness of this residency, please contact us before applying: residencies@musicboard.berlin.de.
Eligible for applying are:
- solo musicians or duos who live and work in Berlin, who are officially registered with their primary residence in Berlin at the time of application and for the entire duration of the residency. For duos, at least one member must live and work in Berlin.
- musicians that have their own musical material and work professionally. The residencies are awarded primarily on the basis of the quality of artistic work, the chances of success and the conclusiveness of the proposed project in relation to the artistic and professional development of the artist or duo.
- musicians from all genres of pop music who stand out through particular creative achievements. With the term »pop music« Musicboard refers to all genres of popular music as well as cross-genre or experimental pop music that cannot be clearly assigned to the categories of jazz or classical and new music.
- musicians with a high level of independence and personal initiative
- musicians who are particularly open to interdisciplinary exchange
- musicians who reflect on their own social position and are critical of power imbalances and discrimination
Musicboard grants a resideny of four weeks at HELLERAU in the period from 1 September to 28 September 2025. The period is set, the residency cannot be shortened or postponed. Presence of the residents in Dresden during the residency period is required.
The Musicboard covers:
- the round-trip travel costs as well as costs for accommodation, rehearsal and project space, mentoring, technical support, provision of technical equipment and the entrance to HELLERAU performances
- weekly stipend in the amount of 250 euros per person
- a singular contribution to project-related costs in the amount of 500 euros
- a child allowance of 219 euros per child and a supplement of 279 euros for an accompanying caregiver if the residency is taken up with a child
The following information and documents must be supplied, in German or in English, using exclusively the application tool that can be accessed via the button at the end of the Open Call page:
- General information about the artist
- Project Proposal
- motivation and presentation of the planned artistic project in the context of the residency
- Artistic Profile
- Artistic resume and press information including a list of artistic milestones such as shows, productions, releases, collaborations, awards and grants
- Three music samples
- To be uploaded as mp3
- Information on own funds, third-party funds, and other public funding
- Scans of certificate of registration or personal ID (front and back)
- indicating Berlin as place of residence
- For non-EU citizens: Scan of passport and residence permit
- Including supplemental documentation of residence permit indicating duration of stay and authorised self-employment
- Statistical information
In each round of funding, applicants may apply for more than one residency. In this case, separate applications must be submitted.
A sample view of the online application form is linked under »Forms and templates«. Applications can be saved and continued at a later date. Only fully completed documents can be considered. All applications will be handled confidentially and used exclusively for decision-making and funding purposes. Publication of certain relevant details is granted by the applicant as part of the application process.