Between Friday, June 26, and Sunday, August 30, at 11:59 p.m., cultural professionals in Wiesbaden can apply for one of the grants offered by the State Capital of Wiesbaden, worth up to 8,000 euros. The selected projects will be included in the program of the 2027 International May Festival and will take place during a specified period, which is yet to be announced. During this period, it will be possible to present the project at Wartburg Castle, in a studio, or at other venues in Wiesbaden.  

“The high quality of this year’s projects, which were created as part of the Freiräume Project Grant, has once again demonstrated the great potential and diversity of Wiesbaden’s independent arts scene. We are all the more pleased to continue the project grants in 2027 in collaboration with the Wiesbaden Cultural Office and to further expand this successful partnership,” say theater directors Beate Heine and Dorothea Hartmann.

Dr. Schmehl, Head of the Cultural Affairs Department, is also pleased about the renewed call for proposals: “In 2026, the independent arts scene and the Hessian State Theater were able to grow closer together through the project grants. This illustrates the potential of additional funding that goes beyond mere project support: it strengthens the independent theater scene in the long term, fosters collaboration, and makes an important contribution to Wiesbaden’s cultural diversity and appeal.” 

For the 2026–2027 season, the Hessian State Theater will explore the question “Who owns the city?” as its season’s theme. Artistic works that open up different perspectives on urban life and challenge existing conditions are encouraged. Questions of participation, belonging, memory, housing, mobility, public space, or cultural visibility may take center stage, as may visions of a city shaped collectively by its residents. Proposed projects may address this thematic area, but this is not a prerequisite for receiving a grant.

Applications must be submitted via Fundgarden, the funding portal of the Wiesbaden Cultural Affairs Office. A five-member jury of experts will decide on the awarding of the grants. The award decision is expected to be announced by September 2026.

Further information on the grant program and the eligibility criteria can be found at wiesbaden.de/projektstipendium-maifestspiele (opens in a new tab).