Between Congo and Elbe – a dialog between rivers
Call for applications for an artist exchange for visual artists in Brazzaville/Republic of Congo
As part of the Dresden-Brazzaville city partnership, the city administrations of Dresden and Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), together with the Goethe-Institut Cameroon and in cooperation with Zentralwerk Dresden e.V. and Ateliers Sahm/Brazzaville, are offering a travel grant.
The aim of this artist-in-residence program is to get to know the art scene in the Congolese metropolis of Brazzaville and to exchange ideas and inspiration. The travel grant is embedded in the Rencontre Internationale d’Art Contemporain (RIAC). RIAC is a festival for contemporary African artists that has been held in Brazzaville in September since 2012. This festival has been hosted and organized by Atelier Sahm since 2012. During RIAC, around 100 artists and art critics from the Congo and other parts of the African continent work together for a month on interdisciplinary projects in the fields of video, painting, photography, performance, art criticism, theater and dance. Parallel to the workshops, an extensive program of dance, theater and music performances, performances, poetry slams, film screenings, debates on ideas and group exhibitions will take place.
- Work residency: August 30 – October 11, 2025 in Brazzaville at Ateliers Sahm.
- Shared studio use with other artists
- Artistic focus: Painting, graphics, concept and media art
- Free accommodation in a guest room at Ateliers Sahm (private bathroom/WC, shared kitchen)
- Artist’s fee in the amount of 3,000 euros
- Assumption of flight costs for the outward and return journey up to a maximum of 1,000 euros
- Assumption of vaccination costs/malaria prophylaxis of max. 60 euros and visa costs of 155 euros
- pro rata coverage of the costs of a language course at the Institut français Dresden in the amount of 100 euros in advance of the stay
- The artist must ensure that he/she has foreign health insurance and the necessary vaccinations and visas
- Residence obligation
- Participation in the Rencontre Internationale d’Art Contemporain (RIAC)
Participation requirements
- Completed artistic training
- Residence in Dresden and center of life and work for at least five years
- Knowledge of English and French
Application documents
- Short biography (max. 2 pages)
- Letter of motivation with reference to the place of residence and topic
- Project description (max. 1-2 pages)
- Documentation material on previous artistic work, only as a PDF portfolio with a maximum size of 10 MB
Applications can only be made online on the portal of the Goethe-Institut Cameroon:
Application deadline: May 10, 2025
Selection procedure: A jury consisting of representatives of the City of Brazzaville, the City of Dresden, the Goethe-Institut Cameroon, Ateliers Sahm and Zentralwerk Dresden e. V. will review the applications submitted and select the artist. The result is expected to be announced in mid-May 2025. Whether the scholarship can actually be realized depends on the current travel regulations and the budget situation of the state capital Dresden.
Application deadline: May 10, 2025