The DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program, the City of Potsdam, and the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) at GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences are issuing a joint call for applications for international artists who wish to develop work that explores the intersection between art and sustainability during a fellowship in Potsdam, Germany. The programme seeks to foster exchange between the arts, academia, politics, and civil society. The residency encourages the participation of artists with critical voices and perspectives that are absent in German and Western European discussions on sustainability.
The residency especially welcomes applications from candidates whose interests dovetail with the research activities in the areas of: air quality, climate change, consumption, democracy, digitalisation, energy, just transition, mindsets, mobility, rights of nature, risks and hazards, citizen engagement, and/or sustainability challenges faced in the Arctic, European cities and regions (e.g., Brandenburg/Berlin), Latin America (particularly the Amazon region), Southern (in particular the Himalaya region) and Eastern Asia, or the Oceans.
The successful applicant will join the RIFS Fellow Programme, which frequently hosts artists as well as scientists and practitioners from business and civil society. The fellowship spans a period of at least four and ideally up to six months, starting in mid-2026.
This call for applications is open to artists active in any field – from the visual arts to filmmaking, the performing arts, literature, music, and beyond. The call welcomes joint applications by artistic collectives, but financial resources are limited. Some proficiency in the English language, as well as interest in research on sustainability, climate justice and/or planetary futures, are preconditions for a successful residency.
Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of 2,500 EUR, plus a lump sum for travel expenses (return journey to Potsdam from the current country of residence), and up to 5,000 EUR for housing support. In addition, the residency provides support on various legal requirements such as visa applications.
