©

British Council Germany, Illustration by Joey Yu.

Develop your practice and networks internationally, at the Liebermann Villa, Wannsee, Berlin

The year 2018 will mark the 80th anniversary of the 1938 London exhibition 'Twentieth Century German Art', the largest international response to the National Socialist campaign against “degenerate art”. This exhibition contained over 300 examples of modern German art – by exactly those artists facing persecution in Germany – in an attempt to defend them on a world stage. The show was also one of the most significant émigré projects of the period. Works were sent to London from scores of Germans in exile: from collectors, dealers and artists based across Europe, at various stages of their flight from the Third Reich.

In the autumn of 2018, the exhibition London 1938: Defending 'Degenerate' German Art at the Liebermann Villa in Berlin’s Wannsee will bring together a representative sample of the original London artworks, together with documentary information regarding their lenders in 1938, the reasons for their loans, and the impact of the exhibition in both Britain and Germany. 

Applications have now closed. The winners will be announced Friday, 7 September 2018.

OPEN CALL

We are offering four places for artists based in the UK and Germany on an emerging artists’ programme to develop their practice and extend their networks by visiting and responding to the London 1938: Defending ‘Degenerate’ German Art exhibition at the Liebermann Villa, Wannsee, Berlin. 

Two UK-based artists and two Germany-based artists will be invited to come to Berlin over three days, spend a day at the Liebermann Villa exhibition on October 9th 2018, meet the curator Dr. Lucy Wasensteiner and the fellow artists on the programme. The visit will serve as inspiration for their own artistic practice, which they will be invited to communicate through the British Council’s digital channels (website, social media). The opportunity aims to highlight the best of emerging talent in the sphere of visual art in the UK and Germany, increasing the publicity and reach of these outstanding artists, and boosting their networks internationally.

Successful applicants will:

  • be invited to Berlin between 8-10 October 2018, with travel, accommodation (8th and 9th October) and subsistence costs covered
  • spend a day at the Liebermann Villa exhibition, meet curator Dr. Lucy Wasensteiner and fellow artists, discuss the exhibition and their own practice
  • be given time and space in the museum to begin a response of their own
  • be awarded a grant of £500 to cover all costs associated with any response they choose to make. The work will remain the property of the artist
  • agree to be filmed at the exhibition in Berlin for a short video for promotional use
  • be given the opportunity to raise awareness of their work through 2-4 posts for Instagram / Twitter / Facebook  

We have created a recording of the information on this page. If you would prefer to hear this text read aloud, please listen to the audio clips below.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from people who:

Essential:

  1. are based in Germany or the UK 
  2. are interested in the cultural relationship between Germany and the UK
  3. graduated with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in 2016 or 2017, or who will graduate in 2018, or who are currently taking a post-graduate course in art, or have equivalent experience (please specify in your application)
  4. have the ambition to pursue a career as an artist
  5. have English language skills at C1 level or above

Desirable:

  1. are involved in an artists' community
  2. have an active social media presence
  3. would like the opportunity to build a network of like-minded artists
  4. (for British applicants) German language skills at B1+

The British Council is keen to encourage applications from Deaf and disabled artists for this scholarship. The British Council will support access costs for Deaf and disabled artists if selected. If you have specific queries about access to the programme, or about access costs, please contact Lucy Curzon on +49 (0)30 311 09975 or lucinda.curzon@britishcouncil.de

How to apply

  • Write up to 500 words in English on our suitability as a candidate, including: how you meet the criteria above; what particularly relevant skills and experience you hope to bring; what you hope to learn
  • Attach CV
  • Attach 6-10 jpg examples of work
  • Email with the subject "Degenerate Art Exhibition" by midnight Fri 31 August 2018 to artistapplications@britishcouncil.de
  • Winners announced Fri 7 September
  • If you need help with your application, please don't hesitate to contact Lucy Curzon (lucinda.curzon@britishcouncil.de) or Frauke Kegel (frauke.kegel@britishcouncil.de)
  • PLEASE NOTE: Emails *must* be no larger than 10 MB in size. If your application is larger than this, please send your entire application through WeTransfer.

External links