Since 1981, the Federal Republic of Germany has supported the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide and the preservation of German cultural heritage abroad, except in historic German settlement areas in eastern Europe, via the Cultural Preservation Programme of the Federal Foreign Office.

Protecting and maintaining cultural identity and its diversity is a key objective of the Federal Foreign Office’s cultural relations and education policy.

What can be promoted?

The Cultural Preservation Programme promotes projects

• to preserve cultural heritage abroad
• to preserve German cultural heritage abroad, except in historic German settlement areas in eastern Europe (for which the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) is responsible)

that meet one or more of the following goals:

• preserve and maintain cultural identity in partner countries,
• preserve outstanding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, not least where it is endangered by climate change, crises and conflicts,
• help to attain the global UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• promote knowledge and technology transfer in the field of cultural preservation,
• preserve German cultural heritage abroad.

Measures might include

• restoring and conserving historic objects,
• supporting the restoration and conservation of cultural and natural World Heritage sites,
• collecting and documenting oral traditions in music and literature,
• conserving and digitising historic manuscripts and film/audio archives, as well as data on cultural property,
• documenting endangered cultural heritage (through films, publications),
• providing basic and further training for restorers, archivists, museum experts and researchers,
• organising exhibitions and colloquia on cultural heritage.

Providing basic and further training (capacity building) as part of cultural preservation projects improves an application’s chances of success.

It is expected that, in keeping with the project design, diversity and inclusion will be promoted wherever possible. Projects taking such an approach will be given priority.

No funding is provided for

• excavations,
• purely academic research projects,
• projects which have already commenced or been completed.

Prerequisites for promotion

2.1. Subsidiarity/securing of overall financing

Grants from the Cultural Preservation Programme are to be applied for only after own resources and all other financing options by third parties (e.g. sponsors) have been exhausted. Overall financing has to be secured.

2.2. Project promotion

Only projects, and not institutions, can receive funding.

2.3. Bilateral projects

Priority is given to promoting projects that involve cooperation between partners from Germany and the host country, but not additional partners from third countries.

2.4. No double financing

The cultural preservation project must not at the same time be receiving other sources of funding from the Federal Republic of Germany.

2.5. Limited projects

Promotion is available primarily for small projects with a limited scope and duration. The Cultural Preservation Programme’s overall budget is to be used worldwide and not restricted to just a few countries.

As far as possible, projects should be completed within one calendar year. However, in justified cases, funding may be extended beyond a calendar year.

As it depends on the adoption of the federal budget, approval of a project should not be expected before March of the following year. For this reason, the project duration should not exceed 8-9 months per calendar year. Where it is clear that a project cannot be realised within this period, you should apply for funding extending into the following year.

It is also possible to apply for funding for a sub-project within a larger project. Sub-projects should stand alone, be realisable separately and be clearly identifiable as a German contribution.

2.6. Agreement of the host country

The host country must have agreed to the implementation of the project. This is particularly important if German applicants want to work in the host country concerned.

2.7. Applicant contributions

Applicants should also, in principle, contribute to the project themselves, even if only in the form of equipment and services.

How to apply

Applicants may be government agencies, non-governmental organisations or individuals abroad or in Germany.

You are advised to submit your application in good time so that any additional documents that may be required can be obtained before the deadline.

a) For applicants abroad

The application, including a project description and a detailed financing plan, if necessary broken down by calendar year, must have been submitted by applicants abroad

at the latest by 31 August of the current year to be considered for the following year.

Applications must be submitted to the competent German mission abroad (embassy or consulate general) in the host country.

Following examination, the competent mission abroad submits the application to the Federal Foreign Office, where a decision is taken in the course of a selection process.

If the project is approved, an agreement will be concluded with the German mission abroad.

b) For applicants in Germany

The application, including a project description and a detailed financing plan, if necessary broken down by calendar year, must have been submitted by applicants in Germany

at the latest by 30 September of the current year to be considered for the following year.

Applications must be submitted to the Federal Foreign Office (Division 613).

If the project is approved, a grant award document will be issued by the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs (BfAA).

Federal Foreign Office, Division 613, 11013 Berlin, Tel: +49 (0)30 5000 3218, Email: 613-r@diplo.de