Co-Creation Residency: Detroit / Berlin

Musicboard Berlin in cooperation with the Detroit-Berlin Connection grants one Berlin and one Detroit-based solo artist from the field of electronic music a two-way Co-Creation Residency, taking place in Detroit and Berlin in 2023. The idea of this residency is to promote unique exchange and collaboration between musicians from Detroit and musicians from Berlin and to raise awareness for the origins of techno and house as black, queer music cultures. Besides the opportunity for an artistic collaboration, both residents will become co-hosts in their own city, giving the guest from the other city direct access to the creative scenes and artistic networks on site.

Only Berlin-based musicians can apply via the Musicboard, the Detroit-based artists are selected via Detroit-Berlin Connection. Both artists will be consulted in the selection of the respective Co-Creation partner.

Information on how to apply for the second funding round until the 1 June 2023 is expected to be announced in mid-April 2023.

Eligible to apply are:

• solo artists living and working in Berlin
• musicians from the electronic field that work professionally and stand out through their creative achievements
• musicians with a high level of independence and personal initiative
• musicians who are particularly open to transcultural production processes and who critically reflect on their own position as well as mechanisms such as cultural appropriation, whitewashing, tokenism or gatekeeping in electronic music
• musicians who have a good knowledge of the music scenes in Berlin and are willing to take on the role of a co-host (no organisational responsibility) in Berlin in terms of networking and access to community for the Detroit artist
• musicians with a valid vaccination against SARS-CoV-2

Stay in Detroit: 6 to 8 weeks around May 2023
Stay in Berlin: 6 to 8 weeks around August 2023

The exact periods of the residency will be coordinated between the cooperation partners and the selected musicians.

As the birthplace of techno, Detroit has been closely connected to the Berlin techno scene since the 1990s. Particularly in the US, but also in Berlin, house and techno music was significantly developed by black and queer communities who established clubs and dance floors as safer spaces and sites of resistance against discrimination and political repression. The residency programme aims to promote an engagement with the origins of electronic music culture and create more visibility and recognition for the role of queer and BIPoC communities that continue to centrally shape the development of these genres.

In Detroit, the Musicboard residents live and work in one of the premises that are home to the legendary techno label and DJ collective Underground Resistance, the younger Detroit Techno Militia collective and in-house record store, Submerge. The Berlin artist will be matched with an artist from Detroit, selected by the Detroit-Berlin Connection for the residency in Berlin. This artist duo will be given access to a studio space to develop collaborative works as well as engage with the community.

In order to continue the artistic collaboration that has developed, Musicboard Berlin subsequently will invite the artist from Detroit for a residency in Berlin. Presentation of the collaborative production at Musicboard’s Pop-Kultur Festival in August 2023 in Berlin is encouraged.

The Musicboard covers:

• the round-trip travel costs as well as costs for accommodation, food, working and rehearsal space
• a singular contribution to project-related costs

The following information and documents must be supplied, in English, using exclusively the application tool that can be accessed via the button at the end of this page:

• Completed Application Form
• Statement of Purpose
  using no more than two A4 pages, including the presentation and basis of the planned artistic initiative in the context of the residency
• Artistic resume
  including a list of artistic milestones such as shows, productions, releases, collaborations, awards and grants
• Three music samples
  to be uploaded as mp3s
• Scans of certificate of registration or personal ID (front and back)
  indicating Berlin as place of residence
• for non-EU citizens: Passport scan
  including residence permit, duration of stay, and type of work permit

In each round of funding, applicants may apply for more than one residency. In this case, separate applications must be submitted. It is important that a statement of purpose is submitted for each residency site.

Only fully completed documents can be considered. All applications will be handled confidentially and used exclusively for decision-making and funding purposes. Publication of certain relevant details is granted by the applicant as part of the application process.

The residencies are awarded through Musicboard Berlin GmbH upon recommendation of an independent jury of Berlin-based pop experts and in consultation with the Senate Department for Culture and Europe. Jury members are usually appointed for a period of three years. The following jury is appointed to the Scholarships & Residencies programme in 2022:

• Aida Baghernejad
  cultural journalist
• Ji-Hun Kim
  Editor-in-chief Das Filter, freelance lecturer, DJ and music producer
• Katja Lucker
  Managing Director of Musicboard Berlin GmbH
• Thien Nguyen
  label owner, DJ, music and film producer
• Pamela Owusu-Brenyah
  A&R, music consultant and curator Pop-Kultur Festival
• Misla Tesfamariam
  artist manager, label owner

A short description of the jury members is available here.

We’ve collected here some frequently asked questions about Musicboard’s residencies. This information is intended for general advice, is not legally binding, and does not take the place of an examination of individual circumstances. We will gladly answer further, detailed questions on the funding programme by phone or by email. Please read the FAQs and other explanatory notes on this website carefully before contacting us. We also recommend the free services of the Kulturförderberatung by Kreativ Kultur Berlin, which supports artists in all disciplines in their search for possible funding, can offer tips for preparing applications and can provide review of applications.

What is meant by »living and working in Berlin«?

In the residency programme, Musicboard funds exclusively musicians and bands who live and work in Berlin. Residency and livelihood must be established with residence permits or personal ID (front and back). The nationality of the musician is irrelevant to the funding decision. Anyhow, for non-EU citizens filing an application, it is necessary in addition to the Berlin residence certificate to provide a passport that includes residence permit, duration of stay, and type of work permit. Please note that Berlin residence must be officially verified. Rent contracts etc. are not sufficient for proof of residence. We kindly ask you to refrain from submitting such documents containing sensitive personal data.

I’ve just submitted another application to Musicboard. Can I still apply for the residency?

In general, it is possible for musicians to be funded repeatedly and in successive periods. In each round of funding, applicants may apply for more than one residency. In this case, separate applications must be submitted. It is important that a statement of purpose is submitted for each residency site. Applications without a statement of purpose cannot be considered. It is also possible to simultaneously apply for a scholarship and one or multiple residencies. In this case, several applications must be supplied as well. In general, due to the large number of applications in a given funding round, the jury will recommend only one grant per artist.

How must my statement of purpose be designed?

In their statement of purpose, applicants should, in no more than two pages, state why they are applying for a residency and what artistic project they would like to put forward in the context of the residency. From the statement of purpose it should be evident that the applicant is familiar with the artistic and cultural context and the profile of the residency site. When applying for more than one residency, it is important that a statement of purpose is submitted for each residency site. Applications without a statement of purpose cannot be considered. It is imperative that this document be submitted in English when applying for a residency abroad, since in the event of jury approval, it will be sent to the foreign residency partner.

How must my artistic resume be designed?

The artistic resume is meant to describe the applicants’ artistic career. In the application form, we also ask for milestones in the artistic career in the form of a brief list of artistic milestones such as shows, productions, releases, collaborations, residencies, awards and grants. The artistic resume must submitted in English when applying for a residency abroad, since in the event of jury approval, it will be sent to the foreign residency partner.

What songs can I submit as music samples? Are demos acceptable?

The music samples should be three songs that represent you and your art. They need not be the newest songs, or the ones that you want to work on during your project. Demos can be submitted. Depending on their quality, it may be wise to provide in addition one or two fully produced works.

I have questions about the accessibility of the residence – whom can I contact with questions?

We want our residency programme to be accessible for all and that it be as inclusive as possible, and so we are always available for any questions, requests and suggestions. For special needs or questions about the accessibility of the residency, please contact Maureen Noe for personal assistance: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de.

When exactly is the application deadline?

The application deadline for the residency is June 1, 2022 at 6 p.m. Until then, applications can be received online and will be posted as received before the deadline. The application is successfully received as soon as it appears in your user profile in the »Submitted Applications« section. We recommend allowing plenty of time for the application and its attachments to upload, and not waiting until the last minute to apply. The upload speed of our servers can decline with increased traffic to the site. If technical problems arise, please make a screenshot, save the application draft and advise us by email at: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de

What are the selection criteria of the jury, and when will I be informed of their decision?

The jury bases its decision above all on the artistic quality of the work, chances of success and the persuasiveness of the application as presented. The project idea should be meaningful for the development and career of the applicant. This can be determined by the applicant’s statement of purpose. A particular focus of the jury is the music samples provided. Funding decisions are made with a view toward building the diversity of Berlin’s music scene. Musicboard and the appointed jury place great value on inclusion and gender balance. The jury’s decision follows the application deadline by 4 to 6 weeks, and applicants are informed by email. Acceptances and declines are sent at the same time. Usually, more applications are received than can be funded, and Musicboard is not obliged to explain its decision. There is no legal entitlement to funding.