Akademie Schloss Solitude runs an international and transdisciplinary artist-in-residence programme for artists and scientists and has supported approximately 1,600 fellows from more than 120 countries since opening its doors in 1990.

Programme description

Approximately 60 live/work residencies are awarded every two years in the following spheres of practice: VISUAL (visual arts & media), AURAL & PHYSICAL (music & performing arts), DIGITAL (digital art, gaming, digital journalism, digital publishing), SPATIAL (architecture & design), TEXTUAL (literature & language), SOCIETAL/COMMUNAL-BASED WORK (education, mediation, theory), SCIENTIFIC (humanities, social, natural & economic sciences).

The name Akademie Schloss Solitude unites the belief in artistic, scientific exchange with the notion of a refuge, a credo which underlays the construction of the Schloss Solitude from the very beginning. Residencies at Akademie Schloss Solitude enable fellows to devote themselves to their research projects under favorable material and intellectual conditions. In this way, the available resources can be used in an optimal, needs-oriented manner. It is essential for the self-conception of Akademie Schloss Solitude that fellows of all disciplines are enabled to work and research free of daily pressures and presentation deadlines. Despite this, the Akademie offers the possibility to communicate and present projects to the public. Besides the realisation of numerous public events, the category »Projects & Publications« on the Akademie website allows international visibility of fellows and their projects and creates space for new digital projects.

A residential fellowship at Akademie Schloss Solitude should also be understood as a future investment, as it might sometimes only bear fruit at a later date, for both the fellow and the institution.

The Akademie Schloss Solitude is financially supported by the German province of Baden-Württemberg (Toto Lotto funds).

Target group

The programme addresses artists and scientists who are not older than 40 or have completed a university degree within the past five years. A limited number of fellowships can be awarded regardless of the applicants’ age. Applications from students enrolled in degree programmes will not be considered; PhD students may submit applications.

Scholarships are usually awarded for a period of six to twelve months.

Scholarship benefits

The Solitude fellowship is a residential fellowship. Fellows are obliged to spend at least two thirds of their fellowships at the Akademie. All fellows must have their permanent residence in Stuttgart for the fellowship’s duration (obligation to register residence).
The monthly stipend amounts 1,200 EUR. Travel expenses for arrival and departure (on a one-time basis) will be covered and the Akademie provides fellows with a free, furnished living/working studio including electricity, water and heating. The Akademie maintains 42 living and working studios, and three guest studios. The Akademie also offers optional additional benefits which are adjustable in accordance with the current budget situation.

Information about the application procedure

Information about the application procedure can be found on the Akademie website before the next application round starts. Double applications to the Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg gGmbH (Arts Foundation Baden-Württemberg) and the AkademieSchloss Solitude are not permitted. 

The international and independent first-rate jury base their decisions on the work samples submitted by the applicants. New jurors are appointed every 24 months by a jury core group.