GOOD TO KNOW

The IGBK is a strong lobby for visual artists at international and national level. The IGBK is involved in the field of international cultural cooperation and is committed to improving international artist exchange and the framework conditions for artistic work.

The IGBK advises visual artists on work, exchange and funding opportunities in Germany and abroad, provides information on current international calls for applications, residencies and scholarships and arranges contacts.
In addition, the IGBK regularly organizes symposia and workshops on current topics relevant to cultural policy and on the conditions and perspectives of contemporary artistic work.
The IGBK is involved in various organizations and networks, particularly at European level. Together with its cooperation partners, the IGBK is committed to ensuring that the interests of artists are strengthened at the relevant political and administrative decision-making points. Further information on the website.

Touring Artists offers information and advice for artists and creative professionals in an international context.

Touring Artists provides information and advice on administrative and organizational issues that arise in cross-border work for artistic, curatorial and organizational practice on the following topics: Visas, residence, contracts, employment, taxes, social security, transportation, customs, insurance, copyright and mobility promotion.

The Touring Artists program has existed since 2013 and is aimed at artists and cultural professionals living in Germany who are planning and implementing projects abroad, representatives of cultural institutions or groups in Germany who work with artists from abroad, artists and cultural professionals from abroad who (would like to) work temporarily in Germany, and especially artists from non-EU countries who want to gain a foothold in Berlin. Further information on the website.

The BBK Federal Association is the umbrella organization of the BBK regional associations and their members. It is a strong community of solidarity and lobby for all female visual artists in Germany.

The Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler e. V. has represented the professional interests of freelance visual artists vis-à-vis federal politics and administration since 1972. It is a politically independent point of contact for the federal states in cross-state matters, for members of the German Bundestag and for committees of the European Union.

The BBK-Bundesverband observes and analyzes the social situation of its profession and develops strategies to improve the economic situation, social security and the cultural policy framework. It encourages critical discourse on the art scene and advocates the freedom of art and culture and a tolerant, democratic society. It takes a stand on current cultural policy issues, such as copyright in the digital age, the instrumentalization of art and the social and economic situation of artists. Joint reflection on the topics in the committees is just as important as the transparency of the decision-making processes.

Further information on the website.
Material: aktueller Leitfaden Honorare, Muster-Ausstellungsvertrag

Kreativ Kultur Berlin is Berlin's advice center for cultural and creative professionals. It is the first point of contact and central guide to funding and financing issues in the capital. The experienced advisors provide information, advice and networking across all sectors and industries - from artists to start-ups.

Kreativ Kultur Berlin sees itself not only as a mediator between the independent scene, creative industries and administration, but also guarantees first-hand information. The advisory services include individual and group consultations on funding projects, professionalization and the development of business models, as well as expert consultations, info sessions, application checks, workshops and much more. The core of the digital offering is the funding finder. This database is the most comprehensive presentation of funding and financing programs in the cultural and creative sector in Germany.

On the Creative City Berlin community portal, Berlin's cultural and creative professionals can also network and find out about current cultural events, debates, jobs, spaces and much more in the city. Alongside Creative City Berlin, Kreativ Kultur Berlin is part of the state-owned Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH and is funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Further information on the website.

The Artists' Social Insurance Fund (KSK) is a division of the Federal and Railway Accident Insurance Fund. By implementing the Artists' Social Insurance Act (KSVG), it ensures that self-employed artists and publicists enjoy similar protection under statutory social insurance as employees. It is not a service provider itself, but coordinates the payment of contributions for its members to health insurance of their choice and to statutory pension and long-term care insurance. Self-employed artists and publicists are entitled to the full range of statutory benefits. However, they only have to pay half of the contributions due out of their own pockets; the KSK tops up the amounts from a subsidy from the federal government (20%) and from social security contributions from companies (30%) that utilise art and journalism. The individual monthly contribution an artist/publicist pays to the KSK depends on the amount of their income. If this is not above the marginal earnings threshold of EUR 3,900 per year, the KSK cannot generally be used (exception: young professionals).

Further information on the website.

VG Bild-Kunst is an association for the collective management of copyrights. It currently has over 60,000 members: artists who create works in the visual field and who have joined together to jointly manage those copyright claims that cannot be sensibly managed individually. The proceeds from the exploitation of the contributed rights of use and remuneration claims are distributed in full to the members after deduction of administrative costs. Bild-Kunst is therefore legally a so-called collecting society, as indicated by the abbreviation “VG” in its name.

Members of VG Bild-Kunst can be authors of the three professional groups as well as their heirs. Publishers and picture agencies are also entitled to membership if the corresponding rights have been transferred to them.

Membership comes about through the conclusion of a rights administration agreement, with which the beneficiary transfers all or part of their rights and claims to VG Bild-Kunst. As membership is free, it is also worthwhile for newcomers to the profession or artists who only occasionally create works.

Further information on the Website.

The Bündnis für eine gerechte Kunst und Kulturarbeit Baden-Württemberg is committed to fair, diverse and inclusive conditions in the arts and cultural sector.

In June 2020, stakeholders and institutions in the arts based in Baden-Württemberg joined forces to form an open, independent and cross-disciplinary alliance for fair, diverse and inclusive conditions in the arts and cultural sector: an alliance that is active at regional, national and transnational level to bring about systemic change.

Further information on the website.

Mehr Mütter für die Kunst is an initiative by Hamburg artist Marcia Breuer. "More Mothers for the Arts" is also the title and the main concern of the manifesto, which can be signed online. It criticizes the persistent underrepresentation of women in the art world.

Further information on the website.

Kubuzz is a further education and coaching program in Baden-Württemberg that supports freelance artists and cultural professionals from all disciplines with the challenges of self-employment - particularly in the areas of planning, financing and marketing. It offers seminars, coaching and e-learning. The program is based at the Ludwigsburg University of Education.

Further information on the website.

At Landesbetrieb Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg, experts from the fields of architecture, engineering, law and administration work closely together to manage the state's diverse real estate.

As a public building owner, the state has a special responsibility and role model function. For this reason, it has been promoting culture since 1955 by reserving part of the construction sum for “art in construction” in important new building projects.

The aim is to realize a suitable and high-quality artistic design for the respective architecture and use. The selection is usually made via an invitational competition. A commission of art experts selects the work that best succeeds in creating a relationship with the architecture that goes beyond its intrinsic artistic value.

Successful “Kunst am Bau” attracts attention and helps users and the public to identify better with the building. Over 5,000 works of art have been created to date. This means that art in architecture is actually one of the largest art institutions in the country.

Further information on the website.
Zu den aktuellen Kunst am Bau-Wettbewerben.