The Kemmler Foundation (part of Kemmler Kemmler GmbH) was established in 2020 to support and connect the work of artists, writers and creative thought across disciplines. In the face of a collective future threatened by a multitude of intertwined crises, we maintain that arts and culture are not just a luxury, but essential to understanding and acting on the most pressing questions of our time.

Borne out of a set of ideals shared within the Kemmler Family and inspired by the legacy of co-founder Katharina Kemmler-Kitzinger, the Kemmler Foundation’s mission is to amplify voices of hope and positive social change from a variety of backgrounds, fields and experiences, collaborating with established and emerging talent.

The program of the Kemmler Foundation is shaped by our dual commitment to provide practical support the arts as well as broad access through our public program, which consisting of temporary exhibitions, artistic performances, talks and readings.

As an integral part of our funding effort, Investigation grants are awarded by the Kemmler Foundation to projects across different artistic fields, practices and media. Special consideration is given to ideas and projects to which, due to their nature, timeframe or multidisciplinary approach, other sources of funding might not be readily available. Grants are usually awarded to professionally working applicants.

Utopia will always remain a work unfinished. The Kemmler Foundation, in fostering critical engagement with our collective present, is looking for visions that ultimately transcend it.

The Kemmler Foundation aims to provide support for a broad range of projects through small to mid-sized Investigation grants. Ideally, these projects have already moved past the initial planning stage and are on a clear trajectory towards realization.

Investigation grants can be awarded for exhibitions, performances, readings and book launches, conferences and other presentation formats. Grants may be awarded to cover the production costs of artworks or public events and their assets, such as photography or printing costs. Payment can cover artist fees and travel costs, but typically no per diem fees or the acquisition of technical equipment. Grants for research projects are necessarily tied to a planned publication or public presentation in the near future. 

Investigation grants are generally awarded to professionally working artists and post-graduate applicants. Please note that we cannot support individual applicants more than once within a two-year timeframe. Applications as part of a separate collaborative project can be eligible.

Applications should include an outline of the project, a portfolio of previous works, a CV and an overall budget calculation for the project, including other (potential) sources of funding. Please indicate how, where and when the project is going to be made accessible to the public.

Direct inquiries and applications to [email protected]