Artist in resident grant at the Galata Studio in Istanbul – Call for apllications 2026
Application Deadline: September 30, 2025
Once again, in partnership with the ARTHENA FOUNDATION, the Kunststiftung NRW is awarding two grants for a three-month residency at the Galata Studio in the Beyoğlu district in the heart of Istanbul. The residency is intended for artists working in the fields of literature, music, performing arts and visual art. Each year the places awarded by the ARTHENA FOUNDATION focus on a different artistic field.
For 2026, the core emphasis of the ARTHENA FOUNDATION’s grants will be on the category of painting.
Each grant includes:
- a furnished studio apartment in the Galata Studio complex
- a monthly allowance for living expenses of 1,200 euros
- a one-off travelling allowance of up to 600 euros
- by prior arrangement: coverage for visa fees, transport/material costs or excess baggage
The Kunststiftung NRW has been running the Galata Studio since 2009. The ARTHENA FOUNDATION has been supporting the programme since 2024, each year awarding two residencies to artists from North Rhine-Westphalia. The aim is to promote creative dialogue and foster interaction with Istanbul’s lively art scene.
Award guidelines and requirements:
A set of defined quality criteria is used to select grantees. Students are excluded from applying. An acceptance or rejection is made in writing, without justification. A rejected application may be resubmitted once, but former scholarship holders are not eligible to reapply. Residency is compulsory and English language skills are required.
To apply, the following documents must be submitted via the Kunststiftung NRW application portal in order to be considered for funding:
- Fully completed application form (to be completed via the Kunststiftung NRW application portal)
- Informal letter of motivation
- Exposé of the planned project (maximum of 10 pages)
- Evidence of previous work (video and/or audio links, work samples, etc.)
Applications must be submitted exclusively via the Kunststiftung NRW portal only. Click here to access the application portal.
Contact: Should you have any queries, please contact Katharina Proksch. For further information, please refer to the FAQ section on the Kunststiftung NRW website.
The 2025 grant winners
In her artistic practice Galina Dimitrova (*1985 in Sofia, Bulgaria; lives and works in Cologne) explores the interjunction of drawing, textile art and installation. This gives rise to expansive spatial works with textiles that lure viewers into a surreal world. Her use of semi-transparent fabrics such as chiffon allows her to foster a dialogue between reality and dream. The black lines of her drawings flow over from her extensive installations into long panels of material hanging on the walls. This shift from three- to two-dimensionality reveals the mutability of drawing and erases the boundaries between various media. During her stay in Istanbul the artist intends to further develop her work in the city’s rich cultural and historical environment.
Jury statement:
“What ultimately convinced the jury about Galina Dimitrova’s work was the original combination of drawing and textile art with which the artist extends the medium of drawing into spatial installations. Her exploration of the traditions of crafts and design in Turkey, which she is also expected to pursue in dialogue with local artists, promises to generate exciting developments in her work.”
Janis Löhrer (*1991 in Aachen; lives and works in Düsseldorf) creates drawings, tiled wall pieces and ceramic objects. In his compositions he explores figural forms and bodies that speak of queer desires and investigates shame and masculinity. He is constantly working on new figures, which he captures in sketches. During his stay in Istanbul, Löhrer is planning a new artist's book consisting of drawings made there. In addition, he intends to conduct research into Ottoman tile-making and Ottoman miniature painting. He aims to use the time outside the studio to immerse himself more deeply in the life and the unique atmosphere of Istanbul, and to develop a basic knowledge of the Turkish language, both spoken and written.
Jury statement:
“The jury was impressed above all by the variety of Janis Löhrer’s work, in both its thematic and formal range. As co-founder of the AURA art space in Düsseldorf, he will be seeking contact with the vibrant art scene in Istanbul. His plans to explore Ottoman miniature painting and queer culture in Istanbul promise an exciting artistic and aesthetic combination, offering wide-ranging insights into a modern, dynamic city.”