Implementation phase from 2027

How should cultural institutions operate in five, ten or twenty years’ time?
How do they need to position themselves in order to remain relevant, resilient and accessible? With these guiding questions, the German Federal Cultural Foundation’s programme “The Day After Tomorrow – New Models for Cultural Institutions” enters its second funding phase in 2027. The programme aims to implement, showcase and firmly embed future-ready models for cultural institutions across Germany, working in close partnership with cultural policy-makers and public administration. A total of ten million euros will be made available to support up to 20 model projects.

Funding is awarded to projects that pursue original, unconventional and bold approaches – whether through a comprehensive strategic realignment of an institution or through fundamental changes to individual areas of work. This may include new forms of leadership and collaboration, innovative funding models, cross-sector partnerships, or a stronger engagement with urban communities and civil society. Funded institutions understand themselves as model projects with demonstrator value. They address key challenges facing cultural institutions, explore new pathways and share their experiences with other organisations.

Sustainable transformation rather than short-term funding
Grants of €300,000 to €600,000 per project (funding period 2027–2030) are intended to support a transformation process and the transition to new organisational structures. Funded institutions must credibly demonstrate how they will continue to operate after the end of the funding period without additional financial support from their governing bodies.

Sharing responsibility: mentoring and knowledge transfer
Knowledge transfer is a core element of the programme. Each funded institution assumes responsibility as a model project and acts as a mentor for at least two other cultural institutions. In this way, sustainable networks, tangible forms of cooperation and a practice-based exchange of experiences and lessons learned are created.

Alongside this, the programme will work with discipline-specific professional associations to develop formats for knowledge transfer and discussion. An international European conference will build on the experiences of the travel programme from the orientation phase and reflect on the results within a European context. Cooperation with the German Association of Cities will also continue.

Political backing and co-financing required
Active support from political decision-makers and public administration is a prerequisite for funding and must be evidenced through formal resolutions and public statements. For the required 20 per cent co-financing of the requested grant, own funds or third-party funding may be used, thereby enabling municipalities under budgetary constraints to submit an application.

Implementation phase: timeline
The binding funding criteria will be published in autumn 2026. The application deadline for the implementation phase is 12 February 2027 at 12:00 noon. Projects are scheduled to begin in July 2027.