International Coproduction Fund

The International Coproduction Fund, administered by the Cultural Department of the Goethe-Institut in Munich, supports international, partnership-based artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. The fund is intended to enable professionally active artists, ensembles and projects that do not have sufficient resources of their own to realize international coproductions. It emphasizes dialogue-oriented collaboration, the creation of new international networks and approaches, and innovative methods of intercultural cooperation. The program covers the performing arts, specifically music, theatre, dance and performance, and particularly welcomes applications involving developing and transition countries. Funding supports the creation of new productions as well as the further development of existing productions of a high artistic standard and with public impact. Projects must demonstrate genuine collaborative artistic development and mutual interest in a dialogue-oriented production between partners. Eligible formats include music, theatre, dance and performance projects as well as interdisciplinary and hybrid projects and projects making appropriate use of digital media. All project costs, including artist fees, travel expenses and production costs, may be included. Applicants may request between EUR 15,000 and EUR 30,000. The International Coproduction Fund provides partial funding of no more than 75 percent of total production costs, requiring co-financing of at least 25 percent through own funds, third-party funding and/or in-kind contributions. Purely commercial projects, commissioned works, guest performances or tours, residency-based projects, music recordings, film or exhibition projects without a performative element, and ongoing operational costs are not eligible. Applicants may be individual artists or legal entities such as institutions, associations and organized groups, but their main place of residence and work must be outside Germany; Austria and Switzerland are excluded. Nationality itself is not determinative. The project must involve dialogue-oriented collaboration with artists, ensembles or initiatives in Germany. The partnership should be balanced both in the collaborative creative process and in efforts to secure financing. Applicants must present a sound finance plan containing all project costs and verifiable own funds, third-party funds and/or in-kind contributions. At least one performance must take place outside Germany, while a presentation in Germany is encouraged but not mandatory. The fund prioritizes productions presented in at least two different countries. The Goethe-Institut in the applicant's country must also have been informed about the project before the application is submitted. Applications must be submitted online in English. Applicants are instructed to review the Application Guidelines and may consult the blank application form to understand the online form structure. Additional materials identified by the fund include the Guideline Project Description and Template Finance Plan. Applications must be complete and submitted by the deadline. The source advises applicants to explain clearly and concisely the project idea, how the partnership was established, the responsibilities of each partner, how artistic work is divided, when and where the different project stages will occur, and whether financing has been secured, with relevant supporting documentation. Applicants should contact the appropriate local Goethe-Institut before applying. Questions concerning pending or previous applications should include the relevant application number. Applications are first reviewed by staff in the Goethe-Institut's music, theatre and dance division for formal compliance and alignment with the fund's objectives and funding criteria. Applications passing this review are submitted to an independent jury for a decision. Evaluation considerations include the quality of the project and artistic concept, balance of the partnership, relevance of participating artists in their respective artistic scenes, collaborative artistic development, public impact, a sound and transparent finance plan, and compliance with the required project period and performance conditions. The fund also identifies contemporary or socially relevant topics and interdisciplinary approaches as advantageous. Accessibility-related project costs can be covered, artists with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply, and the fund also promotes environmentally sustainable project planning. The current application period runs from August 17, 2026 through October 12, 2026, with applications due October 12, 2026 at 23:59 CET. Projects in this round start January 1, 2027 and must end by December 31, 2027. Activities that have already begun, including activities for which contracts have been signed or bookings have been made, are not eligible. Before making commitments, an applicant may request an early start of measure through an informal email, but approval of an early start is neither funding approval nor a commitment to fund the project. The selection process normally takes approximately three months from the application deadline to approval or rejection. The source confirms two application periods for 2026 but does not explicitly establish that the program will recur on the same schedule after 2026. The program contact is the Goethe-Institut International Coproduction Fund at koproduktionsfonds@goethe.de. No individual contact person or telephone number is provided in the supplied source. Applicants are encouraged to contact their nearest local Goethe-Institut, including its director and cultural program staff, before submission. For the current round, the stated project period is January 1 through December 31, 2027, with proof of expenditure due by the end of 2027. Applicants should monitor the Goethe-Institut website for updates to the application process.

Demonstrate active and equal collaboration between partners; clearly explain how the partnership was established and how artistic work and responsibilities are shared; provide a transparent finance plan covering all project costs and at least 25% co-financing; specify when and where each project step will occur; provide relevant supporting documents; contemporary or socially relevant topics and interdisciplinary approaches are advantageous; presentation in at least two countries is prioritized.