Open Call for Art Intensive Berlin 2026 (Spring): Experience Berlin’s Dynamic Art Ecosystem
Duration: 4 weeks
Dates: April 1st – 30th, 20256
Location: Berlin, Germany
Eligibility: International
Age Limit: None
Participation Fee: 1200 Euros
Application Deadline: February 28th, 2026
About the program
Art Intensive Berlin invites International Artworkers—curators, researchers, collectors, artists, writers, photographers, creative managers, gallerists, and others—to participate in a unique four-week educational program in Berlin, one of the world’s most vibrant art capitals.
Berlin’s art scene stands as a dynamic epicenter of creativity, seamlessly blending cutting-edge contemporary art with a profound historical backdrop. Renowned for its world-class galleries, vibrant street art culture, and avant-garde experimental spaces, the city continually attracts artists, curators, and creative professionals from around the world. This unique synthesis of history and artistic innovation solidifies Berlin’s status as a cornerstone of the global art community.
If you would like to work in Berlin and/or collaborate with artists and institutions from Berlin in the future, this program is for you. The Art Intensive Berlin is a carefully curated program that introduces its participants to all the different dimensions of the Berlin Art Ecosystem(s).
Why would you like to participate?
Access and transparency in the art world, especially within institutional structures, are often limited. Even practitioners who have lived in Berlin for several years report not having the opportunity to speak directly with curators or understand institutional strategies.
This project was initiated to address that gap—by creating structured, intentional, and inclusive encounters between artworkers and institutions. It aims to demystify institutional cultures, foster cross-cultural exchange, and empower participants to navigate and contribute to the contemporary art world more confidently and critically.
What impact does the program envision creating?
Short-Term Impact: Provide participants with meaningful access to Berlin’s cultural ecosystem, expand their professional networks, and support the development of their individual practices.
Long-Term Impact: Encourage translocal collaborations, contribute to a more transparent and inclusive curatorial landscape, and help shape a future generation of culturally conscious and critically engaged artworkers.
Local Impact: Strengthen the relationship between Berlin’s institutions and the broader international art community, bringing in fresh perspectives and facilitating a two-way dialogue that benefits both local and global actors.
Program Structure
The program offers a carefully curated experience of Berlin’s dynamic art ecosystem, providing direct exposure to its leading institutions, galleries, and professionals. Participants receive a yearly pass for unlimited visits to Berlin’s state museums, along with exclusive guided tours and behind-the-scenes access.
The program fosters professional development through networking opportunities with curators, artists, and industry experts, creating possibilities for future collaborations and project funding. In-depth learning sessions provide insights into Berlin’s funding models and art infrastructure, equipping participants with essential skills to navigate the contemporary art landscape.
The program culminates in a public symposium, where participants can present their projects, showcase their work, and connect with the Berlin art community, ensuring a transformative and immersive experience.
Institutional Visits: Engage with curators, directors, founders, and/or representatives of Berlin’s leading art institutions, including museums, galleries, project spaces, and many others, to gain insight into their creative processes, collaborative models, and funding infrastructures.
Personal Project Development: Develop your personal project throughout the 4-week program and present it during the final public symposium on April 30th, 2025.
1:1 Mentorship: Receive personalized 1:1 mentorship to develop your project throughout the 4-week program.
Workshops & Guest Lectures: Learn about grant and funding opportunities across private, state, and national levels in Berlin and Germany.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with Berlin-based artists, curators, cultural managers, scholars, and international participants.
To have an overview of the program schedule, please visit the Program Calendar.
Stay updated on past program highlights through our Social Media Platforms.
Participant’s Responsibility
- Program Participation Fee: €1200 (all-inclusive of program-related costs) / per person
- Travel Costs: Flights/ Transportation to and from Berlin
- Accommodation: Approximately €450–€700/month (for a room in a shared apartment)
- Local Transportation: 58 Euros / per month
- Food: Approx. €300/month (varies depending on individual preferences)
- Health Insurance, Living Expenses, and others.
Application Procedure
Fill out the Google Form to submit your application.
You will be notified of the result within 72 hours, informing you whether you have been selected for the program.
Tips!
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will continue until the position is filled.
- Early submissions are given priority.
- If you require a visa to travel to Germany, we strongly recommend that you apply early to ensure sufficient time for visa processing.
- If you plan to apply for external grants and scholarships, we strongly encourage you to apply early, allowing sufficient time to process the application and increasing your chances of receiving it.
Grants, Funding & Scholarship
We regret to inform you that we do not currently offer any grants, funding, or scholarships to cover the program fee and additional costs. However, if you plan to apply for external funding opportunities, we are happy to support your application by providing relevant documents upon your selection into the program.
All funds generated by AAC programs are reinvested into maintaining and developing our platforms, which are dedicated to decentralizing curatorial knowledge. We take pride in serving a global community of artworkers, with regular visitors from 154 countries across all continents. Our commitment is to continue fostering accessibility and knowledge-sharing within the international art ecosystem.
About All About Curating (AAC)
All About Curating (AAC) is a curatorial initiative based in Berlin (Germany), founded by Mahzabin Haque. It is a unique global platform including 61 art professionals representing 38 countries, dedicated to exploring innovative methods of collaboration by transcending geographical, cultural, and institutional boundaries. By bringing together a diverse array of curators, artists, researchers, art managers, editors, grant writers, cultural managers, and other art workers, AAC creates a dynamic and inclusive platform that supports innovative curatorial practices and collaborative efforts.
AAC is committed to decentralizing essential information about curatorial practices worldwide. Instead of creating a bubble of curators, by the curators, and for the curators, it embraces diverse voices and perspectives from all relevant stakeholders. AAC goes beyond the traditional confines of curatorship as individualistic and hierarchical to a more inclusive, horizontal, and collective approach.
At its core, AAC is about fostering meaningful connections and collaborations among art professionals globally. It facilitates dialogue and cooperative projects that bridge cultural and geographical divides, encouraging the exchange of ideas and practices. AAC’s commitment to inclusivity ensures that curators and artists can learn from each other and work together in innovative ways, despite the trivial institutional and bureaucratic challenges.
For more information, please visit: https://www.allaboutcurating.com/
Image credits. Copyright Remains to All About Curating (AAC)
