KALEIDOSKOP -
Award for Cultural Variety
A new funding initiative for North Rhine-Westphalia.
In a diverse society, we need places and projects that facilitate encounters, foster dialogue, and strengthen mutual respect. It is precisely where different life experiences intersect that the potential for new perspectives emerges—when opportunities for exchange are created. The unifying power of art and culture plays a central role in this.
This is where KALEIDOSKOP comes in: The goal is to focus on the social impact of art and culture and to put it into practice through concrete collaborations. In this way, cultural participation can be supported and social cohesion strengthened.
The concept
In collaboration with TARGOBANK, Kulturkreis (the cultural lobby of German Business) is awarding three grants through the KALEIDOSKOP program to projects in North Rhine-Westphalia that use cultural initiatives to address social issues. The focus is on collaboration between a nonprofit artistic partner and a social institution. Both partners contribute their strengths to the funded project and work together as equals.
With a total budget of 100,000 euros, three projects will be funded: Large and medium-sized projects based in North Rhine-Westphalia could apply for project grants of 50,000 or 30,000 euros. For projects based in Duisburg, there was an additional funding opportunity: They may have also been considered for the DU_Kultur|en_Award, which specifically supports local projects in Duisburg with 20,000 euros.
Both existing programs and new initiatives from all artistic fields were eligible to apply, regardless of whether they are affiliated with an established cultural institution or not.
The funding period begins with the announcement of the selected projects on June 13, 2026. Projects may be carried out until December 31, 2027, at the latest. Projects may span the entire period, or be of shorter duration.
Jury 2026
The jury of experts was appointed by Kulturkreis and consists of professionals from social and cultural sectors as well as individuals with experience working with the target groups. The jury is further supplemented by a representative from our funding partner TARGOBANK and a representative from Kulturkreis:
- Mechthild Eickhoff, Geschäftsführerin Fonds Soziokultur
- Dr. Christian Esch, Kulturmanager, Direktor NRW KULTURsekretariat a.D.
- Krystian Lada, Programmdirektor Ruhrtriennale
- Louwrens Langevoort, Kulturmanager
- Rodger Masou, Geschäftsführer Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft
- Kathleen Rahn, Direktorin Marta Herford
- Aslı Sevindim, Integrationsbeauftragte NRW
- Tine Vogt, Geschäftsleitung TARGOBANK Kundencenter Standort Duisburg
You can find detailed information about the jury here.
Online consultation
If applicants had specific questions about funding, application materials, or the selection process, they could book an online appointment with Dr. Alexandra Schildhauer here.
Criteria for Selection
The selection of funded projects is carried out by an independent panel of experts. The focus is on projects that convincingly combine artistic quality with social relevance and have the potential for a lasting impact.
Who is eligible for funding:
- Funding is available for projects based on a partnership of equals between an artistic partner and a social organization.
- Both parties must clearly contribute their respective expertise and ensure that the collaboration is substantively sound.
- Culture should not be thought of as something isolated, but rather understood as a unifying force—as a space for encounter, participation, and dialogue.
- Projects that enable (new) alliances bring together different perspectives and have a tangible social impact.
Key criteria include:
- A coherent social purpose for the project
- The quality and professionalism of the artistic execution
- Reach and accessibility for the defined target audience
- A plausible and transparent project and financial plan
- As well as the potential to generate momentum beyond the specific project
Timeline
- Call for applications opens: March 23, 2026
- Digital info session: April 9, 2026
- Info session in Düsseldorf: April 14, 2026
- Application deadline: April 26, 2026
- Jury meeting: May 2026
- Award ceremony in Duisburg: June 13, 2026
Our funding partner TARGOBANK
TARGOBANK is part of TARGO Deutschland GmbH and has nearly 100 years of experience in the German banking market. It serves approximately 4 million private, business, and corporate customers.
The range of products and services for private customers includes accounts and cards, loans, investment and wealth management products, and insurance (through ACM Deutschland). The business model is complemented by offerings for business and corporate customers, including an auto bank. Through its corporate banking division, TARGOBANK provides corporate and specialized financing for upper-mid-market companies, as well as financing solutions in the areas of factoring, leasing, and investment financing
To stay close to its customers, TARGOBANK operates approximately 340 branches in more than 250 cities across Germany and is available online and by phone 24/7.
TARGOBANK is headquartered in Düsseldorf. It employs 7,700 people across Germany, approximately 3,000 of whom are based in Duisburg, where the customer service center and IT department are located. The company also has offices in Mainz (factoring) and Frankfurt (TARGOBANK Corporate Banking).
TARGO Deutschland GmbH is a subsidiary of the cooperative Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, one of the largest and financially strongest banks in Europe.
Your Contact Persons
If you have general questions about KALEIDOSKOP, the application process, or other topics, please feel free to email us at [email protected] at any time.
