NRW · Germany · Europe

Funding Creative AI Projects

Grants, scholarships, residencies, and EU programs — all verified, all relevant.

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NRWOpen
Grant

KfW Award Gründen 2026

National startup prize for founders who started from 2021. Prize money and visibility for AI creative startups from Düsseldorf and NRW.

1 days left · Deadline: 1 Jul 2026 — award ceremony 4 Nov 2026

Startup prizeOne-time award cycle 2026

€35,000 total prize money; state winners €1,000; national prize +€9,000KfW
Details →
NRWOpen
Residency

K3 Echoing Intelligence — Residenzen für KI und Kunst

Open call for 10 artistic residencies for artists investigating AI as subject or central tool of their work, for stage, exhibition spaces or online formats.

12 days left · Deadline: 12 Jul 2026

€2,500/month + approx. €7,500 production budget + hardware/software access

K3 KI.Kunst.KulturDetails →
DüsseldorfOpen
Grant

Kulturamt Düsseldorf — Darstellende Künste

Project and concept funding for performing arts in Düsseldorf. Supports AI performance, theatre, dance, live media, and performance-technology projects.

Deadline: 1 Sep 2026 (for 1H 2027 projects)

Impulse up to €5,000; project grant €10,000–€25,000; concept up to €90,000 over 3 years

Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf / KulturamtDetails →
DüsseldorfOpen
Grant

Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf — Kunst- und Kulturstiftung

Foundation grants for experimental art, film and interdisciplinary cultural projects in Düsseldorf. AI projects eligible when framed as art or culture.

Large projects: 1 Sep 2026; small projects: 6 weeks before start

Large projects €2,000–€6,000; small projects €500–€1,500

Kunst- und Kulturstiftung der Stadtsparkasse DüsseldorfDetails →
NRWOpen
Media Funding

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW — Digitale Spiele / Immersive Inhalte

Funding for AI-supported games, XR, AR/VR, web and mobile interactive content from NRW companies and freelancers. Covers early phase through full production.

Deadline: 11 Sep 2026

Early phase up to €50,000; vertical slice up to €200,000; production up to €300,000 + possible €200,000 loan

Film- und Medienstiftung NRWDetails →
NRWOpen
Media Funding

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW — Serious Games / Gamification

Funding for AI-supported learning games, civic and cultural games, and gamified educational experiences from NRW. Annual pilot budget €500,000.

Deadline: 18 Sep 2026

Vertical slice development up to €200,000; annual pilot budget €500,000

Film- und Medienstiftung NRWDetails →
EUOpen
EU Grant

Horizon Europe — AI Integration in Creative Sectors

Horizon Europe Innovation Action supporting full AI integration in cultural and creative sectors work practice, including tools, strategies, guidelines and cross-sector collaboration.

Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

€15M total budget; expected grants approx. €4–5M

European Commission / Horizon EuropeDetails →
EUOpen
EU Grant

Horizon Europe — Fair Market for Cultural Content in the Era of Generative AI

Call for solutions addressing generative-AI supply chains, content authenticity, consent, control, rights management and compensation for artistic and creative data.

Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

Topic-specific EU grant funding

European Commission / Horizon EuropeDetails →
EUOpen
EU Grant

Horizon Europe — Boosting Creative Startups for Disruptive Innovation

Innovation Action supporting methods and ecosystems that help creative startups scale disruptive and cross-sectoral innovation.

Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

Topic-specific EU grant funding

European Commission / Horizon EuropeDetails →
DüsseldorfOpen
Grant

Kulturamt Düsseldorf — Kulturelle Bildung

Project funding for cultural education in Düsseldorf. Ideal for AI creative workshops, participatory digital learning formats and community education programs.

Deadline: 1 Oct 2026 (for 2027 projects)

Usually €1,500–€10,000; small projects up to €3,000 full financing

Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf / KulturamtDetails →