Application

The application 2026 is closed (1st until June 28). This year, the process will take place in two stages: In the first step, 100 people will be selected through a random draw out of all entries. These 100 selected applicants can then submit an application for a living expenses grant in a second step. Our committee will review the entries and select 20 musicians.

The application is simple: questionnaire, financial self-disclosure, taxdocuments – that’s it. No motivation letters, no worksamples. The 100 selected musicians will be informed about the second-round process at a later date.

Why are we doing it this way this time? Our previous system, which has been continuously refined, works well. However, the lottery system has the advantage of lowering the barrier to access a grant. With conventional open calls, many interested people ultimately do not apply: “Ugh, I don’t stand a chance anyway.” To counteract this, we have decided to introduce a lottery-based pre-selection for this year’s application process.

The five basic requirements for a grant were:

1. You have been working as a independent professional musician for at least 6 years.

2. For at least 6 years, you have financed at least half of your living expenses through your musical work and/or you dedicate at least 20 hours per week to your musical activity (i.e. roughly half of a 40–42 hour workweek).

3. You are active in one of the following fields: electronica, improvised music, hip-hop/R&B, outernational/global music, jazz, pop/indie or rock. 1)

4. Your place of residence, tax domicile and center of life is in Switzerland or Germany.

5. You are a member of a professional association (e.g. SONART, Pro Musik, Deutsche Jazzunion) or an organization that works to improve working conditions in the independent music sector (e.g. Helvetiarockt, Music Women* Germany). 2)

1)
Applications from musicians working exclusively in film music, as well as those from the fields of classical music, new music, and early music, will not be considered.

2)

  • Not applicable: memberships in copyright collecting societies (e.g. GEMA, GVL, SUISA).
  • Why is such a membership required? We believe that strong professional associations and advocacy groups with many members are essential. Only in this way can the situation for musicians improve sustainably at a structural level.