Step by step, our guide will lead you to all the important information you might need for your international work.

Here we go!

The Guide

Germany's cultural scene

Places to see and show

Kunstaspekte – Information network for visual arts: initiatives, galleries, 'Kunstvereine', museums, festivals, biennials, exhibitions and much more

Goethe Institut: exhibitions, curators, museums/collections/institutions, residencies and much more

Art Guide Germany, ifa: annotated collection of links; the website provides information about structures and services in the field of art as well as an overview of educational and sponsorship services. 

Universes in Univers: biennials, triennials and other exhibitions

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Kunstvereineaddresses of the members  

Bundesverband Deutscher Galerien und Kunsthändlerlist of members (only available in German)

Network of free spaces and initiatives in Berlin: the network (only available in German)

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IMPORTANT VISUAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS IN GERMANY

Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Kunstvereine
The Association of German Art Associations (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Kunstvereine (ADKV)) represents a large and growing number of Kunstvereine across Germany that present and support contemporary art. The ADKV sees its mission as a catalyst and a mediator working at the conjunction of culture, education, media and politics. Service: representation of political interest, information and advice for its members, publications, joined public relations, addresses. 

Akademie der Künste
As an important art institution with a long tradition, about 500 artists of all disciplines from around the world join the Akademie der Künste (AdK) in Berlin. Among others it counsels the Federal Government as regards arts and culture. Aims: awards, exhibitions, readings, concerts and discussions, documentation and archiving. 

Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler (only available in German)
The Federal Association of Visual Artists (Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler (BBK)) is the professional representation of free-lance visual artists in Germany. The BBK is in contact with all political parties, ministries and authorities and aims at improving social and legal working conditions of artists. Service: information for its members regarding living and working as an artist, projects, addresses, state and regional associations.

Bundesverband Deutscher Galerien (only available in German)
The Bundesverband Deutscher Galerien (BVDG) represents the interests of gallery owners and art dealers to political bodies, media and the public. Service: representation of interest, cultural support, public relations, training, exchange of experience.

Deutscher Künstlerbund
The Association of German Artists (Deutscher Künstlerbund) is an association of visual artists, who commit themselves to the protection of their interests while respecting each other’s work. Aims: cooperation in national and international committees and boards of curators; advice and artistic debate; exhibitions.

Deutscher Kunstrat (only available in German)
The Fine Arts Council (Deutscher Kunstrat) is a section of the German Cultural Council (Deutscher Kulturrat). It is an association of visual artists’ organisations, mediators and parties exploiting art and aims at being a voice for the arts sector within political discussions.

GEDOK (only available in German)
The Federation of Women Artists and Patrons of the Arts (GEDOK - Verband der Gemeinschaften der Künstlerinnen und Kunstförderer) represents the interests of women artists of all disciplines and aims at professionalizing artistic work of women. Objectives: networking with other institutions and disciplines, exhibitions, awards.

Fachgruppe Bildende Kunst of ver.di (only available in German)
The Fachgruppe Bildende Kunst (department visual art) is a sector of the trade union ver.di and unites professional visual artists. It represents professional interests of artists.

Internationale Gesellschaft der Bildenden Künste
The Internationale Gesellschaft der Bildenden Künste (IGBK) ( International Association of Art in Germany) supports international artistic exchange. It represents the interests of visual artists at the European level. Service: information on working opportunities and support schemes in Germany and abroad; individual advice; contact details for international exchange programmes; database.

Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, ifa
The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) promotes art and cultural exchange in exhibitions, dialogue and conference programmes. It connects civil societies and moderates discussions on international cultural relations. Service: support schemes, exhibitions and discussions, database.

Künstlersozialkasse (only available in German)
The Artists’ Social Security Fund (Künstlersozialkasse KSK) executes the Artists’ Social Security Act (Künstlersozialversicherungsgesetz). Duties: examination and insurance of artists, publicists and journalists, as an intermediary it forwards the contributions to the insurances; handling of the ‘employer’s share’.

VG - Bild Kunst Verwertungsgesllschaft (only available in German)
The collecting society BILD-KUNST was founded by authors (visual artists, photographers, filmmakers). Duties: licensing and support of individual rights (e.g. reproduction rights, resale right); organisations of copyright fees; representation of interests towards political bodies and administration. Service:  information on copyright law, contracts, etc. examination of authors’ rights.

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ACADEMIES AND ART SCHOOLS

There are 56 officially recognized academies of art and music in Germany. The range of courses of study varies: some academies concentrate on artistic courses (e.g. graphic design and book art at the Academy of Visual Arts Leipzig); the Academy of Media Arts Cologne e.g. is classified as education institution for (new) media.

Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee – Hochschule für Gestaltung (only available in German)
Universität der Künste Berlin  
Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig 
Hochschule für Künste Bremen 
Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden 
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf  (only available in German)
Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste (Städelschule) Frankfurt am Main  
Burg Giebichenstein - Hochschule für Kunst und Design Halle 
Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg 
Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe 
Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe
Kunsthochschule Kassel
Muthesius Kunsthochschule Kiel 
Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln 
Hochschule für Graphik und Buchkunst Leipzig 
Akademie für Bildende Künste der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (only available in German)
Akademie der Bildenden Künste München  
Kunstakademie Münster - Hochschule für Bildende Künste  (only available in German)
Akademie der Bildenden Künste Nürnberg 
Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main 
Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar  (only available in German)
Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart  
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar 

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