International Media Art Award
of the Arts Foundation NRW
A Cooperation with
About Us
The Kunststiftung NRW (Arts Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia) was established by state authority as a private foundation on 12 September 1989 and has been active since 1990. It has a long-standing reputation as a “good address” and of being a “committed advocate” of the important artists and outstanding art events in NRW. It concentrates on selected, high-quality projects – preferably those with international links – in all the arts.
The foundation is an entirely non-profit organization. Its funding comes from the proceeds of three German lotteries. Its central functions are
to assist outstanding projects for the presentation and documentation of art and culture, e.g. through the allocation of funds for exhibitions, concerts, performances;
to support the acquisition and safeguarding of works of art and cultural assets with outstanding significance for North Rhine-Westphalia for use in museums, libraries and the archives of similar institutions;
to foster exceptionally talented young artists, e.g. through the allocation of grants, awards and allowances in kind, the organization of academies;
promote international artistic interchange, e.g. through exhibitions, cultural programs, residencies.
4,740 art-project decisions and a subsidy volume of around €139m – that is the balance of the 18-year activity. The foundation supports between 250 and 300 projects annually in all the arts. It also runs an extensive development program for young artists from NRW which allocates up to 80 grants each year. An alumni program keeps up the relationship to the foundation and encourages communication among the artists.
The foundation has originated several operative projects:
the Kunststiftung NRW Translation Prize of €25,000 annually, in cooperation with the Europäisches Übersetzer Kollegium (European Translators’ College) in Straelen, ;
The Nam June Paik Award – Kunststiftung NRW International Media-art Prize of €25,000 every two years for an international artist, together with a newcomer prize of €15,000 for a young NRW artist.
A total of ten known experts work at the Kunststiftung NRW in the areas of visual art / media art, the performing arts (music, theater, dance) literature and in management. The board currently consists of Dr. Fritz Schaumann, State Secretary ret., as president and Regina Wyrwoll as secretary general.
The Kunststiftung NRW (Arts Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia) was established by state authority as a private foundation on 12 September 1989 and has been active since 1990. It has a long-standing reputation as a “good address” and of being a “committed advocate” of the important artists and outstanding art events in NRW. It concentrates on selected, high-quality projects – preferably those with international links – in all the arts.
The foundation is an entirely non-profit organization. Its funding comes from the proceeds of three German lotteries. Its central functions are
4,740 art-project decisions and a subsidy volume of around €139m – that is the balance of the 18-year activity. The foundation supports between 250 and 300 projects annually in all the arts. It also runs an extensive development program for young artists from NRW which allocates up to 80 grants each year. An alumni program keeps up the relationship to the foundation and encourages communication among the artists.
The foundation has originated several operative projects:
A total of ten known experts work at the Kunststiftung NRW in the areas of visual art / media art, the performing arts (music, theater, dance) literature and in management. The board currently consists of Dr. Fritz Schaumann, State Secretary ret., as president and Regina Wyrwoll as secretary general.
