Apply for a Working Grant (Arbeitsstipendium) for Comics

Applications are possible from 15.07.2026 to 15.09.2026. The application deadline ends on 15.09.2026 at 11:00 a.m. Online applications must be received by 11:00 a.m. After 11:00 a.m. submission is no longer possible; transmissions that have already begun will then be automatically cancelled. • You are a professional comic artist You demonstrate your artistic ability either through already published comic projects or through work samples that show artistic aptitude. • You live and work in Berlin • Only one application per applicant is possible • A repeat application with a project that has already been submitted in previous years is possible. • You are applying as an individual or as a group A Stipendium (grant/scholarship) is a personal form of funding. For this reason, only natural persons, associations of natural persons, and GbRs (partnerships under civil law) consisting of natural persons are eligible legal forms to apply. The group confirms the association of artists through a joint declaration. If a GbR agreement already exists for the whole group, it must be submitted with the application. For groups, more than 50% of the group members must be registered with their primary residence in Berlin (for a group of two people, both applicants; for groups of three people, at least two applicants, etc.). The person applying on behalf of the group must be registered with their primary residence in Berlin. Groups may consist of comic illustrators and comic authors. The application must be submitted by the comic illustrator. • Double funding/simultaneous funding or grants • An application for the Arbeitsstipendium (work grant) of the State of Berlin is also possible if applications are made for grants from other funding bodies. If a grant is awarded, immediate notification must be given so that it can be checked whether the grant from the State of Berlin and the grant from another funding body are combinable. Grants already awarded for the year 2027 must be stated in the application form. The Arbeitsstipendium can be combined with other grants from the State of Berlin up to a total of 24,000 euros per year. • The Arbeitsstipendium Comic (comic work grant) of the State of Berlin cannot be combined with a work grant for comic artists from the Deutscher Literaturfonds (German Literature Fund) in the same funding period. • After the end of the grant period, a Sachbericht/Evaluierungsbogen (activity report/evaluation form) must be completed. • No enrollment in an artistic degree programme or teaching position as a professor at a university At the time of application and during the funding period, applicants must not be enrolled in an artistic degree programme (this also applies to a doctorate) or employed as a professor at a university. Further education and retraining in a non-artistic subject area are not an obstacle.

• Application for funding through the Comic Scholarship You can only submit the application online. Please have all required documents and evidence ready to upload in PDF format. • Artistic CV and portfolio (max. 12 DIN A4 pages, max. 8 MB, PDF file) • Artistic career - non-binding recommendation of a maximum of 2 DIN A4 pages - including scholarships, awards, exhibitions, and, if applicable, a list of publications. • (Optional) Portfolio of your previous artistic work and/or, if applicable, documentation/information material - non-binding recommendation of a maximum of 10 DIN A4 pages. This can be publications from recent years or meaningful work samples. For works that are currently easily accessible, bibliographic details are sufficient. Please focus on work from the last three years! • Note: The attachment - Artistic CV and portfolio - with a length of more than 12 pages (including cover sheets, images, other documents) will not be accepted. In the interest of equal treatment of all applicants, the corresponding application will be formally excluded. The maximum page count of 12 pages also applies to group applications. • Description of the work project (max. 2 DIN A4 pages, maximum 5 MB, PDF file) Please address the following questions: a) What project would you like to work on during the scholarship period, if applicable? Describe the content, character, and design approach of the project. b) What is special about your artistic work? Why is the application important to you at this particular time? c) Describe the status of your work project and which work steps are planned for the scholarship period. State whether the work sample you have submitted represents a draft or a final planned style and page layout, and what scope (pages, chapters) your comic is expected to have. • Note: The attachment - Description of the work project - with a length of more than 2 pages (including cover sheets, images, other documents) will not be accepted. In the interest of equal treatment of all applicants, the corresponding application will be formally excluded. • Work sample of the project (max. 20 drawn pages in PDF format, max. 15 MB, PDF file) • Up to a maximum of 20 drawn pages showing the style and page layout. • Please state whether this is a draft or a final planned style and intended page layout. • Note: A work sample with a length of more than 20 pages (including cover sheets, images, other documents) will not be accepted. In the interest of equal treatment of all applicants, the corresponding application will be formally excluded. • Proof of identity, proof of Berlin registration address, and proof of residence permit (jpg, png, PDF file) This proof must be provided by the applicant and, in the case of a group application, by all members of the group. • For citizens with German citizenship: copy of the identity card (front and back) • For citizens from EU countries: copy of the identity card (front and back) or copy of the passport AND Meldebestätigung (registration confirmation) (see "Weiterführende Informationen" [further information]) • For citizens from non-EU countries with an Aufenthaltstitelkarte (residence permit card): The residence permit card (front and back) counts as an identity document and as a Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate), as well as proof of a valid residence permit. • For citizens from non-EU countries without a residence permit card: copy of a valid identity card (front and back) or passport AND copy of the Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) AND copy of the valid residence permit or of the certificate of right of residence (front and back) • Only for group applications (but mandatory there): GbR-Vertrag (partnership agreement under German civil law) for an existing GbR, or a declaration on the formation of a group of artists signed by all group members, if the group is formed only for the purpose of the application; according to the template. (under "Formulare" [forms]) The declaration - like the registration address, which must be proven for all group members - must be signed by all applicants involved. If a GbR-Vertrag already exists, please submit a copy of it.

• Declaration on the association of artists www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/foerderung/foerderprogramme/bildend

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• Landeshaushaltsordnung Berlin (LHO) [Berlin State Budget Code] § 3 paragraph 1 gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=HO_BE_!_3 • Landeshaushaltsordnung Berlin (LHO) § 34 paragraph 2 gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=HO_BE_!_34

4-5 months

• Information sheet on the award of the Berlin Comic Grants (Senatsverwaltung für Kultur [Senate Department for Culture]) www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/foerderung/foerderprogramme/literat • Website of the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt (Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion) www.berlin.de/sen/kultgz/ • Apply for a Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120702/