DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS IS 30th SEPTEMBER 2025, 12:00 PM CAT
The GPS programme grants seed funding of up to R 100.000 per project to three artistic projects that are realised in rural and peri-urban parts of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini between February and November 2026. The Goethe-Institut set up this grant to support art professionals who collaborate with cultural or public spaces and engage with the people in the areas where these spaces are located.
The GPS programme is supporting artistic projects that are engaging with communities outside the big urban centres and are focusing on the production and/or facilitation of artistic content. We also welcome projects that deliberately foster collaboration and exchange between rural and urban spaces, and projects that seek to build partnerships with a specific community or arts space.
Please note: We are explicitly not looking for social cohesion or social development projects. Such projects are not eligible for funding through GPS. This grant specifically intends to support professional arts and cultural production. Projects that solely take place in urban centres (e.g. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban) will also not be considered.
Conditions to apply (eligibility criteria)
- Only artistic projects of a non-commercial nature that take place between February and November 2026 will be considered.
- Only projects that take place outside the big urban centres (e.g. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban) will be considered.
- Project locations can be in South Africa, Lesotho and/or Eswatini
- The Goethe-Institut offers financial support to the maximum amount of R 100.000 per project. If the project budget exceeds this amount, the applicant must seek further support from other funding institutions, donors or sponsors – and needs to show this in the budget plan that is part of the application.
- The proposed space has an established track record, operating for at least 2 years and professionalism is evident in their work. The profile of the space must be such that realisation of proposed project is viable.
- A clear and viable realisation/project plan is mandatory.
- The signed collaboration agreement outlining the form of commitment from the space is essential.
- A clear idea on how the project engages with communities, preferably outside South Africa’s big urban centres, must be part of the project proposal. Projects solely taking place in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban will not be considered. Collaborations between practitioners, collectives or spaces that are based in the rural and urban areas are welcome.
- Only one project proposal per artist/art collective/art organisation will be considered by the jury.
Checklist – What do I need for my application?
All necessary materials and information will be asked for in the Application Form (available soon).
The following information and materials should be prepared by you in order to fill in the application:
Mandatory:
- A short synopsis of your project (max. of 200 words)
- A detailed project description (max. 1000 words)
- A short paragraph about the projects’ objectives and means how they will be met (max. 200 words)
- A project timeline including realisation plan and promotion strategy (max. 500 words)
- Short biographies/descriptions (max. 500 words) of all involved parties (artists, collaborators, space/venue etc.)
- Collaboration Agreeement signed by all artists, collaborators and spaces involved in the project.
- A Budgetplan outlining the estimated costs (expenditure) and planned income for your project
Optional:
- Supporting material / references of previous work (e.g. press reviews, visual documentation) – NO reference letters needed. You will be able to upload up to 3 files and add up to 3 website links.