Solitude Fellowships 2026–2028 at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart
- Omran Aburayya
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
If you are an artist, researcher, or cultural professional who is beyond the very beginning of your career but not yet fully established, the Solitude Fellowships 2026–2028 now have their first call for applications open. Running until November 14, 2025, 6 PM CET, the program invites international applicants to apply through the online platform, offering fellowships of 6 or 9 months in Stuttgart. These residencies provide space for concentrated work, interdisciplinary exchange, and networking, with the possibility of collaborating with other institutions in Stuttgart and the surrounding region. Here’s a full breakdown of what you need to know — who it’s for, what’s offered, how to apply — and a detailed look at the “spheres” of practice to help you decide whether your work fits.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Stuttgart, Germany — at Akademie Schloss Solitude.
Level: Open to cultural professionals, artists, researchers — those who are in an active phase of practice after completing education. Not limited by degree (except in certain spheres).
Target Group: International artists, researchers, cultural professionals with at least ~2 years and up to ~10 years of independent professional experience after artistic or academic training.
Fields of Focus: Very broad: all disciplines under six “spheres of practice” (detailed later).
Value & Coverage:
Monthly fellowship €1,300 for living expenses.
Furnished live/work studio (utilities included: heating, water, electricity).
One-time travel allowance for arrival + departure.
Project funding (depending on budget).
Health insurance coverage for non-EU residents.
Duration: 6- or 9-month fellowships for individuals; for collectives only 6 months. The Scientific sphere fellowships are 6 months.
Application Deadlines:
Stage 1 (Short Application): October 15 → November 14, 2025, 6 PM CET.
Stage 2 (Full Application): November 24 → December 19, 2025, 6 PM CET.
Start Date: The residency period begins in consultation with the fellows, depending on studio availability, within up to two years after jury results are announced. Fellows must maintain Stuttgart as their main residence during the fellowship.
✏️ Fellowship Overview
Akademie Schloss Solitude awards between 50 and 60 residencies every two years to transdisciplinary artists, researchers, and cultural professionals.
The fellowships are residential, offering time and space to focus deeply on one’s project. While results are “open-ended” (i.e. there is no fixed requirement for what final form the output must take), the program supports on-site events, cultural institution collaborations in the region, and participation in the Akademie’s community.
A core value is interdisciplinary exchange, so fellows are expected to engage with others across different disciplines, attend and possibly contribute to Akademie events, network locally in Stuttgart, and participate in communal life.
📚 Spheres of Practice
Applications for the Solitude Fellowships 2026–2028 are open across six main spheres of practice, each encompassing multiple disciplines and approaches. Applicants must select one primary sphere that best represents their work.
1. VISUAL – Fine Arts & Film/Video
Fine Arts: Painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, photography, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, performance art
Film/Video: Documentary, fiction, video art, experimental film, and related forms of moving image work
2. AURAL & PHYSICAL – Music/Sound & Performing Arts
Music/Sound: Musical interpretation, composition, sound installation, sound performance, experimental music, and music theater
Performing Arts: Dance, choreography, acting, directing, dramaturgy, performance studies, and live art
3. SPATIAL – Architecture & Design
Architecture: Architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture
Design: Product design, scenography, fashion design, costume design, and spatial or object design
4. TEXTUAL – Literature & Language
German-language Literature: Poetry, prose, essays, dramatic writing, and literary translation in the German language
International Literature: Poetry, prose, essays, dramatic writing, and literary translation in other languages
5. DIGITAL – New Media & Digital Art
Artistic practices using or exploring digital, algorithmic, and networked technologies
Engages with gaming, (live) coding, hacking, open-source culture, digital communities, and post-digital aesthetics
6. SCIENTIFIC – Humanities & Applied Sciences
Fields include: Philosophy, media studies, sociology, cultural studies, political science, law, life sciences, and economics
Eligibility requirement: Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or higher
Focus disciplines within this sphere may vary in each fellowship cycle
💲 Fellowship Benefits
Fully furnished live/work studio, with all basic utilities (electricity, heating, water).
Monthly stipend of €1,300 to cover personal living costs.
Travel allowance (arrival + departure).
For non-EU fellows, health insurance costs are covered.
Access to Akademie’s resources: workshops (wood, metal, video editing, VR), libraries, communal spaces, and opportunities for exhibitions or events.
Strong international & multidisciplinary peer network.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Must have completed artistic/academic training. For most spheres, at least 2 years and up to ~10 years of independent practice post-training. For the Scientific sphere, a Master’s degree or higher is required.
Not eligible: people still in basic degree programs (except PhD candidates), and full university professors.
Collectives (max 2) are eligible if working together for at least 2 years; both must be physically present if selected. Collectives get 6-month fellowships.
Languages: Proficiency in German or English (both acceptable; at least one required).
📝 Application Procedure
Stage 1 – Short Application (online)
Fill out form via application platform, including personal details, sphere of practice, and motivation.
If the number of applications is very large in some spheres, there may be an anonymous random selection for pre-selection.
Stage 2 – Full Application (online)
For those admitted, submit full version with project proposal, portfolio, etc. within scheduled deadline (Nov 24–Dec 19, 2025).
Jury Selection
An independent international jury evaluates applications based on artistic or scholarly substance, depth of content, portfolio, relevance to the stage of career, social/contemporary relevance, and readiness for interdisciplinary exchange.
Notification & Start
Applicants will be notified after stage 1 whether they proceed. Final selection results come after stage 2 and jury process.
🗂️ Documents you’ll likely need
Portfolio / evidence of past work
Description of your current practice, how it has developed, why now is a relevant moment for such a residency
Project proposal / plan for the residency, including what you hope to achieve, and how you’ll engage with the Akademie community or region
CV or equivalent showing training and professional experience
Statement of language proficiency (English / German)
If applying as a collective: documentation of prior joint work and ability to be present simultaneously in Stuttgart
ℹ️ Useful Extra Information
There are 41 live/work studios in the wings of Schloss Solitude, all furnished, each with living and work areas, small kitchen, private bathroom.
Accessibility is limited due to the historic architecture; there is one fully accessible studio, and others have minor limitations.
Studios are generally designed for single occupancy; many have double beds or a sofa bed. Partners may live in the studio, but additional workspace, childcare, or travel costs for them are not covered.
🔍 Selection Criteria
When the jury evaluates your proposal, these are the key dimensions:
Depth, substance, originality of your artistic or scholarly work / portfolio.
The current stage of your career, and whether the fellowship is particularly relevant to where you are now.
Relevance of the project in social, cultural, or contemporary terms.
Willingness to engage beyond just personal project: interdisciplinarity, exchange, participation in Akademie events, networking locally in Stuttgart.
