FAQ

If you cannot find an answer to your questions here, you can contact our contest office at any time kontakt@thepowerofthearts.de

1Who can apply for The Power of the Arts award for art and culture?
 
Eligibility is open to non-profit institutions whose projects and initiatives use art and culture to advocate for social and cultural equality as well as understanding among all people, and to take down structural, social, and cultural barriers. The award is given to projects or concepts which are yet to be realized or have just started being rolled out. To be eligible, the submitting institution must have non-profit status and be based in Germany. Furthermore, all project participants must be of legal adult age, and the project must be primarily oriented toward people aged 18 and over.
2How many projects will funding be awarded to?
 

In 2022, four projects or concepts will be awarded a sum of 50,000 euros each.
3How are the projects selected?
 

The jury procedure for The Power of the Arts is carried out over two stages. This process reviews and assesses each application comprehensively. The jury makes a preliminary selection of projects from which the awardees are chosen. The jury has the opportunity to review all of the applications submitted. Information about the jury members can be found on the website. The jury of The Power of the Arts is comprised of prominent figures from arts and culture who have an internationally recognized high level of professional expertise and likewise stand for the diversity of our society. The jury is appointed anew each year by the sponsor of the initiative The Power of the Arts, Philip Morris. Most of jury members have been on the jury since the first call for entries. While changes in the line-up are possible, there is an aim to further develop the award in terms of content and quality through continuous discourse. The jury strives for the highest level of professionalism, esteem, and respect in the deliberation and selection process.
4Can I apply with a project that has been carried out in the past and is going to be realized again?
 
Yes, that is possible. It will be advantageous for the project description to focus on potential evaluation and advances the project has undergone.
5Can I apply as a freelance band, freelance ensemble, or freelance artist?
 
Freelancers can apply provided the concept or project is going to be implemented with sponsorship from a non-profit institution or initiative (gGmbH, registered association, public law institution, etc.). That information needs to be entered accordingly in the field “Name of organization, sponsor, or event organizer” (see online application form).
6What is the application process for The Power of the Arts?
 

The following steps need to be taken to apply to The Power of the Arts:

  • Registration opens on 1 April 2022 at thepowerofthearts.de by selecting “application” in the menu.
  • You’ll then receive your login info via email.
  • You can use that info to login and start the application right away.

The application deadline is midnight (12:00 am) on 31 May 2022.
7I didn’t receive a confirmation email.
 

Confirmation of your application is sent automatically. If you haven’t received it yet, then please first check whether you entered your email address correctly, and also be sure to check your spam folder. If you still can’t find an email, then please contact the Project Office at kontakt@thepowerofthearts.de or over the phone at +49 (0) 30 53 00 29 45.
8Can I submit my application in English?
 
Applications are only accepted in German.
9How do I perform the financial calculation for the application?
 
The application needs to disclose the project’s financial structure. To do so, an editable PDF is available for download – the budget. You’ll need to download the form, fill it out, and then upload it in the next step. For expenditures which cannot yet be named with exactness, we do ask that a calculation be made for the corresponding items – i.e. please do some research to determine a number that will be as realistic as possible as a placeholder for the final amount.
10How can I save the information entered in the online form?
 
Applying via the online form takes place in several individual steps, each of which involves one or more queries and/or uploads. You can save your entries and continue editing the form at any time.
Please note that the save function will only work if you have completed all of the fields and uploaded all of the required documents for a specific step. If you are not yet able to answer an individual question, then please use a placeholder. You will be able to edit all entries up to final submission. After submission, editing will no longer be possible.
11Why are the file names of the submitted PDF documents changed?
 

All documents are automatically renamed during upload, irrespective of the name you’ve saved them under. This is done in order to be absolutely certain of correct allocation to your project and happens intentionally.
12Can I still change my application after having sent it?
 
Once you have submitted your application, you won’t be able to make any further changes to it. The Contest Office likewise cannot make any changes to applications after submission. That means you need to be certain that all information is complete when submitting the application.
13When can I expect to see a decision from the jury?
 
The jury will make its decision in September 2022. After that, the Contest Office will notify all applicants of the results from the jury session.
14What documents are needed in order for the award money to be paid out to the winners?
 

The following documents must be provided by the awardee(s) prior to payout of the award money: current notice of tax exemption; annual financial report, as available; most recent annual financial statement; articles of association or by-laws; application form for the award money; and a detailed cost and financial plan for the project.
15Are awardee projects obliged to make reference to The Power of the Arts?
 

It is important to us that you use the awardee logo of The Power of the Arts, which makes reference to the sponsor, Philip Morris GmbH, on your website and when information about the winning project is published.
16Does the award money have to be used/spent in full?
 
Yes, the award money of 50,000 euros must be used and spent in full. The award money is intended to bring sustainability to the work of awardee initiatives and projects, and to make a contribution to cultural understanding. It’s important to ensure that the submitting institutions and project participants are using the award money in a responsible manner. The cost and finance plan to be completed in the application provides the jury with a foundation to that end.
The actual costs incurred must be evidenced following project completion. During the course of the project, approval will be required for content modifications or changes which are financial in nature.
17Whom do I turn to with further questions?
 

The Project Office is happy to be at your service for all questions regarding content as well as for technical assistance. You can reach it at +49 (0) 30 53 00 29 45, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and also via email at kontakt@thepowerofthearts.de. Your contact partner is Elizaveta Willert.

Please note: The demand for assistance is higher toward the end of the application period, which means waiting times are to be expected. Therefore, be sure to contact the Project Office early on with your questions.
18What is Philip Morris GmbH’s connection to The Power of the Arts?
 

The Power of the Arts award for promoting art and culture was initiated by Philip Morris GmbH in 2017. The funding as well as the entire infrastructure for the competition is provided by Philip Morris GmbH. This award is in no way associated with the company’s products.

The promotion of non-profit projects is a part of Philip Morris GmbH’s long-standing tradition of social and cultural engagement.

Philip Morris GmbH sponsors projects for the socially and physically disadvantaged, projects against domestic violence, projects for the promotion of women’s issues, for education, and for income-generating measures for young adults. The company has been well known since the 60s as a patron of large-scale collections, exhibitions, and artists. Since 2017, the company has now been combining both of these aspects via The Power of the Arts, supporting non-profit institutions which use art and culture to promote social participation for all.

The company’s socio-political commitment is summarized under Corporate Democratic Responsibility. Its study “How we really live” (Original German title: “Wie wir wirklich leben”) investigates in partnership with the Rheingold Institute the citizenry’s expectations on politics as well as how they want to be involved in political decision-making processes.  In Germany’s super election year of 2021, Philip Morris GmbH initiated Power for Democracy, a new award for projects which work to strengthen democracy.