Conceived in honour of the late Henrike Grohs – a dedicated promoter of contemporary art in Africa – the prize aims to support outstanding artistic practices and contributes to cultural dialogue on the African continent. Since its inauguration in 2018, the prize has established itself as an outstanding opportunity to promote exceptional African contemporary art practice. Contemporary visual artists from various disciplines living and working on the African continent are eligible to apply.
The Goethe Institut, also known as the Goethe Institute, is a globally renowned cultural institution established by the German government to promote the German language, foster international cultural exchange, and enhance intercultural understanding. Named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a prominent figure in German literature and culture, the institute operates worldwide and offers a wide range of programs, courses, events, and resources to individuals and organizations interested in German language and culture.
Goethe Institut serves as an instrument of cultural diplomacy, working to facilitate cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Germany and other countries. A significant part of its mission involves promoting the German language as a means of communication, collaboration, and accessing German culture, literature, and academic resources. The Goethe-Institut is widely recognized for its comprehensive German language courses catering to learners of all levels. These courses range from beginner to advanced, offering standard language instruction as well as specialized programs for specific purposes such as business, academic study, or travel.
Goethe Institut organizes diverse cultural events, exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, workshops, and performances. These activities showcase various aspects of German culture, including literature, music, visual arts, film, and theater. They also provide international artists and creators a platform to share their work and perspectives. The Goethe-Institut offers scholarships, grants, and support for artists, researchers, and professionals in various fields. These opportunities enable individuals to collaborate with German counterparts, participate in residencies, attend workshops, and contribute to cultural exchange.
The institute places a strong emphasis on fostering intercultural dialogue and understanding. It promotes exchange between German and international artists, intellectuals, and experts in various fields, facilitating discussions on cultural diversity, societal challenges, and global issues. Many Goethe-Instituts feature libraries that house a collection of German literature, films, music, and other materials. These resources serve as valuable references for language learners, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in German culture.
The Henrike Grohs Art Award is a biennial art prize conceived by the Goethe Institut and the Grohs family in memory of the former Head of Goethe-Institut in Abidjan, Henrike Grohs.
The prize is run through an open call process and is aimed at young artists who live and work on the African continent. It is awarded biennially to an artist or arts collective practicing in the field of visual arts. The award aims to support emerging artists in their careers, responding to the challenges of practicing on the African continent. Artistic quality is the most important criteria for the award.
Requirements For The Goethe Institut Henrike Grohs Art Award
- Applicants have to be emerging visual artists living and working on the African continent.
- Artists should have been practicing for at least 5years, with the ability to display a coherent body of work.
- Each applicant may apply only once during the current application process;
- A collective of artists should apply as one participant, but any artist who belongs to a group is not barred from applying individually as a separate participant
Prize
- The winning individual artist or collective will receive a cash prize of 20.000€ and 10.000€ towards the production of a publication on their work.
- Two artists or collectives will be selected as runners up and will be awarded a cash prize of 5.000€ each.
For More Information,
Visit the Official Webpage
Application Deadline: August 31st, 2023