A project by IGBK, the International Theatre Institute (ITI) Germany and Dachverband Tanz Deutschland (DTD), initiated and supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media
Mobility is a central aspect of artistic work. Collecting new impressions, exchanging thoughts with colleagues abroad as well as continuously redefining one’s own position are part of the process. Thereby exhibitions and projects abroad, residencies or international guest performances are a matter of course today.
But with an increase in mobility, artists do not only face a jungle of support schemes and grants, also the need for secure information regarding social law, taxation and insurance issues or administrative procedures is growing, both, within and beyond EU borders.
Whether foreigner tax, procedure for returned goods, health insurance coverage or travel support: the information portal www.touring-artists.info raises awareness and offers visual and performing artists who are working internationally profound knowledge of the topics taxation, social security, visas, customs, insurances and copyright.
A database of support schemes for international projects as well as checklists and sample documents etc complement the information.
touring artists Helpdesk service
In April 2013 www.touring-artists.info was presented to the public. The launch of the website was accompanied by a symposium at the Radialsystem V (Berlin). In lectures and panels experts focused on issues like the granting of visas, subsidy programmes and information services.
Since October 2014 there is a touring artists helpdesk service, offering individual counsel to artists on international projects or working stays abroad.
Appointments for consultancy can be made at www.touring-artists.info/helpdesk-service, the service is free of charge.
Updates in 2018 - International Artists Info Berlin (IAIB)
Since spring 2018, the portal has also provided information specifically for artists and cultural workers from Turkey who are temporarily or permanently working in Germany or are planning to do so. Information about residence and work permit, taxes, social security, transport and customs are published here in Turkish and English.
Starting September 2018, touring artists is also offering an extended helpdesk service, welcoming artists and culture professionals who were forced to leave their home countries and are now residing in Germany.
The information portal has been enhanced accordingly with corresponding information in German, English and Arabic.
The enhanced service for artists and culture professionals from countries affected by crisis is part of the project International Artists Info Berlin – a cooperation of IGBK, ITI and DTD, supported by the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt Berlin program "Weltoffenes Berlin".
News in 2019 - touring artists provides specific information for musicians and culture professionals in the music sector
The information on touring artists has so far focused on the performing and visual arts. In cooperation with the European Music Council, a start is made in 2019 to expand the information systematically also for the music sector - by now in German, hopefully in English soon as well.
Under Music in Germany you will find an overview of the music landscape in Germany. Specific aspects concerning the musical sector are added under artist status and contracts and also the feature on further information portals has been enhanced.
The touring artists helpdesk service is available to artists and creative professionals of all disciplines and is also used by musicians and culture professionals in the music sector.
Information in the field of music in cooperation with the European Music Council, funded within the framework of the Program Creative Europe of the European Union as well as by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the City of Bonn.
Workshops and events
Together with its cooperation partners IGBK organises a series of events to present the information tool to the public and to discuss single topics in detail (View a selection of past events until December 2019 here. Later dates will be listed in the touring artists Facebook-Profile).
