Residence NRW⁺ offers 2 six-month residency fellowships for emerging Swiss curators in 2026/2027 in Münster (Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia). The programme is supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, and includes one fellowship from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, and another fellowship from April 1 to September 30, 2027.
Deadline for applications (online) 5/7/2026.
Detailed information, requirements, and application form: https://www.residencenrw.de/en/call-for-application
Residence NRW⁺ is based in North Rhine-Westphalia, in Münster. The programme is an initiative of the City of Münster and is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Kunststiftung NRW, and Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council, which provides grants for curators from Switzerland. The programme is associated with the Kunsthalle Münster (www.kunsthallemuenster.de).
During the scholarship period, six artist fellows and two curatorial fellows live and work together in a building specially adapted and renewed for this purpose on the grounds of Hoppengarten, a new cultural quarter close to the city center. Based on the four key elements of the programme – exchange, practice, support, and networking – Residence NRW⁺ provides optimal conditions for advancement within each individual field of work: artists and curators live and work together under one roof. Furthermore, a qualified person with long-term experience in the field will mentor the curators.
Two curators, one from Switzerland and one from Germany, work together as a duo for six months. The curators-duo will conceive and independently realize, in general, two projects funded by the residency programme at alternating cooperation venues throughout North Rhine-Westphalia.
The cooperation venues for the first six-month period will be Stiftung Museum Schloss Moyland, Linienstraße Düsseldorf, Josef Albers Museum Quadrat. Bottrop, Neue Galerie Gladbeck – Neue Galerie Gladbeck for the final exhibition of the four artists in residence.
In addition to the grant for the curators, three cooperation projects of Residence NRW⁺ are subsidized with 10,000 euros each. The exhibition of the artists in residence at is budgeted by the programme with 12,000 euros.
The monthly grant for the curators is 1,460 CHF. Swiss curators will have the funding transferred directly to their account in two instalments: 80% at the beginning of the residency (approximately 7,000 CHF) and the rest at the end, after sending a detailed report on the residency. In addition, there will be a one time travel allowance of 1,000 CHF
The fellowship is primarily spent at the place of residence in Münster. Participation in the Residence NRW⁺ programme is a prerequisite for taking up the fellowship. Basic knowledge of the German language would be beneficial.