It depends on your work up until the applicaiton. But a rule of thumb is: as much as nessecary to convince the jury of your talent and artistic work but as little as possible. The jury's time is limited. Be precise and only hand in documentation of your work that is essential and exemplary.

Do NOT hand in long films, whole compositions, descriptions with more than two pages, etc.

To document your artistic work, you have the option to upload up to five PDF files. Does this mean that you should submit five individual works—one per PDF? Or should you submit a comprehensive portfolio that includes all your works?

This depends on the structure of your portfolio. You can upload multiple PDFs or just one—it is a very individual choice. However, you should carefully select the most essential parts of your work so that the reviewers get a clear impression of its essence. If you submit too much material, there is a risk that the jury members will only review part of it—and possibly not the aspects that matter most to you.

Journalism itself is not considered an artistic field. If you wish to move away from journalism and focus more on literary writing, exhibition texts, graphic novels, etc., then applying may be worthwhile. However, if you primarily work as a journalist and pursue artistic projects on the side, an application would not be appropriate. Architects are not eligible to apply. However, if you are a trained architect working in public art or a similar field and aim to make a living from it, applying may be a viable option.

We only accept individuals who have just completed their studies in exceptional cases. If your degree has not yet been awarded at the time of application, you may submit provisional documents (such as a transcript of records) or an informal confirmation from your university stating that you have completed all academic requirements. It is essential that by the start of the scholarship (July 1), you have no remaining coursework or academic obligations, as these are not compatible with the scholarship. If you still have requirements to fulfill, you would need to wait  and apply in the following year.

If you only have a bachelor's degree or a diploma instead of a master's degree, you need to submit both this degree and proof of "exceptional artistic achievements". Please upload the respective university degree certificate and the proof of "exceptional artistic achievements".

Is it possible to include voluntary artistic activities under "Activities beyond artistic work," or should only non-artistic volunteer roles be listed?

You can include all voluntary activities—this also includes artistic volunteer work - under "activities beyond artistic work"

Yes.

This refers to cost of living: Rent (flat and/or studio), groceries, insurance, travel expenses, clothing and other goods of everyday life, like phone bill etc. Please list all monthly expenses (this should not include holidays, savings, credit card bills, etc.).

The scholarship is intended for artists from the city of Hamburg and the metropolitan region. If you are selected for the scholarship, you must provide proof of primary residence in Hamburg by the start of the scholarship on July 1. You cannot take up the scholarship if your primary residence is elsewhere.

This scholarship is intended for young artists at the beginning of their careers. That's why we have the age limit.

If you completed your master's degree later due to a valid and understandable reason — such as experiencing displacement, illness, or caregiving responsibilities — and can only apply at the age of 35 or 36, an exception may be made in special cases.

The curriculum consists of approximately 20 full-day seminars or workshops. All seminars and workshops take place in Hamburg, mostly at the premises of the Claussen-Simon Foundation. They are compulsory. Scholarship recipients may miss a maximum of two sessions during the scholarship year. Absences due to illness are the only exception and will not be counted as missed sessions. The dates will be communicated shortly after the scholarship has been awarded.

Artists from around the world can apply but only if they live in Hamburg and have a good knowledge of German. The workshops will be held in German and every member of the group should be able to participate.