In the framework of the Residency Programme Frankfurt Moves!, the foundation KfW Stiftung and the Frankfurt LAB invite professional international emerging artists working in the performing arts to work on their artistic projects and to exchange ideas with other creative artists. Applicants must have been trained in Africa, Asia, Latin America or the WANA (West Asia and North Africa) region. Particular attention will be paid to those who are living and working in the mentioned regions at the time of the application.

In a two-step programme, a stipend is granted to enable artists to focus on their artistic research. First, the artists will be invited to Frankfurt am Main, a German metropolis in the heart of Europe, for a residency period of four weeks. They will be able to access the professional venues of the Frankfurt LAB and be provided with dramaturgical and technical support. After the on-site residency, the recipients will be financially enabled to continue their artistic research in their country of residence for another month. Virtual meetings will allow for a continuation of support and dialogue between the residents and the institutions.

In 2026, four residencies will be made available for solo artists or artists working in a team of up to two people. The programme will take place in the following time-period:

20 July to 16 August 2026, Frankfurt am Main
17 August to 19 September 2026, country of residence / remote

About the Frankfurt LAB
The Frankfurt LAB is a production space for rehearsing and performing experimental works in the fields of the performing arts (dance, theatre, performance) and contemporary music. Artistic responsibility is shared by its partners the Ensemble Modern, the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company, the Hessische Theaterakademie, the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main and the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm.

About KfW Stiftung
KfW Stiftung is an independent, non-profit foundation based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was established in 2012 by the KfW Bankengruppe. The foundation addresses major socially relevant transformative issues on the basis of three fields of activity: Ecology & Sustainability, Economy & Society and Arts & Culture. KfW Stiftung aims to actively shape change by offering opportunities to those who are advancing social transformation.

Benefits:
• Stipend for living expenses (2.750 Euro gross per person);
The stipend is two-fold: 2.000 Euro cover the first four weeks in Frankfurt.
750 Euro contribute to living expenses while continuing the research in the respective country of residence.
• 4 weeks accommodation in Frankfurt (for 1-2 persons)
• Travel expenses to Frankfurt (round trip for 1-2 persons)
• Expenses for artistic work in Frankfurt (max. 800 Euro gross per person / artistic team)
• Professional documentation
• Professional rehearsal space (see below) / use of one of the Frankfurt LAB venues (Hall 1 / Hall 2), including the use of the existing technical equipment
• Workshop presentation (see below) with support by an event technician
• Dramaturgical and technical support by staff of the Frankfurt LAB, the partner institutions and/or external experts

Who can apply?

The residency offers excellent conditions for the (further) development of artistic works, for a solo artists or teams of max. two artists.

Requirements – applicants should
• Work in the performing arts – interdisciplinary approaches are possible
• Have been trained in Africa, Asia, Latin America or the WANA region (Particular attention will be paid to those who are living and working in the mentioned regions at the time of the application)
• Not be enrolled as students
• Have graduated within the past 10 years
• Have had first professional experiences (incl. max. one international co-production)
• Have one concrete project idea or specific research project
• Be working on a future-oriented project, not on an already existing production (requests for guest performances will not be considered)
• Be available during the residency period and be able to spend one month (20 July – 16 August 2026) in Frankfurt am Main
• Have availability to continue the working relationship after the residency in Frankfurt for another four weeks by participating in two virtual workshop formats
• An interest in an exchange of ideas with artists and cultural institutions in Frankfurt
• Impart no hostility towards any groups of people in their projects
• Be able to communicate in English (or German)

Application procedure:

The Application Form requests the applicants to provide details about themselves and previous work experience, information on the (research) project, their motivation for the application and video links to recent works. An additional project description or portfolio can be entered in PDF form (max. 2 pages).

There is no application fee.

A jury of experts, which consists of members from Frankfurt LAB, its partner institutions, KfW Stiftung and international experts, decides on the awarding of the residencies. The applicants will be informed about the jury’s decision approx. in May 2026.

Rehearsal Space: Both venues of the Frankfurt LAB are at the disposal of the artists, meaning that two artists / artistic teams share a hall, to which they have unlimited access. Both halls are black boxes (Hall 1: 600 m², divisible by a curtain / Hall 2: 250 m² studio stage), which have a grid and numerous hanging possibilities. The Frankfurt LAB also has a kitchen, dressing-rooms and showers. Existing technical equipment (sound, light, video, stage) can be used upon request and basic technical supervision on site is available.

Workshop Presentation:The artist may publicly present their work. The showing should provide scope for reflection and exchange and need not be a finished production.

Frankfurt Moves!" is an initiative of the KfW Stiftung to promote artistic exchange and intercultural dialogue with different partners in the region. The scholarship programme in cooperation with the Frankfurt LAB supports international emerging artists in the performing arts.