Prices for galleries and off-spaces

Course description

Since 2019, the City of Munich's Department of Culture has regularly awarded prizes to Munich galleries and off-spaces.

(Young) galleries that also represent Munich artists play a central role in communicating the current art scene in the City of Munich. They not only contribute to the regional perception of the local art scene, but also present the work of Munich artists at national and international art fairs and events. Through their close collaboration with the artists, they create valuable connections between the local scene and an international audience. In this way, they promote both the recognition of Munich artists and the perception of Munich as an art centre.

The City of Munich's Department of Culture will award three prizes totalling 6,000 euros to Munich galleries in 2026. This award honours the prizewinners' commitment to the local art scene and young artists as well as their role model function for the perception of Munich as a city of art.

The focus is on the conceptual work and commitment of the respective institutions in the previous year. The awards therefore honour exhibitions, concepts and projects that have already been completed.

Prerequisites

Munich galleries are invited to apply,

• that are based in the city of Munich
• have been running a professional gallery for at least one year
• whose focus is on the primary market with contemporary art
• who operate a commercial art trade in Munich
• who represent living, primarily Munich-based artists
• who invest in exhibitions, publications and trade fair appearances (changing exhibitions, unrestricted public accessibility, effective publicity measures to promote the artists shown)

Required documents

Please send your application by e-mail to galerien_off-spaces@muenchen.de

• fully completed application form
• Presentation of the gallery and its conceptual orientation (approx. 250 words)
• Portfolio with exhibitions, projects and (digital) activities of the gallery in 2025
• an overview of the (Munich) artists represented in the programme
• professional references and reviews, if applicable

All documents (including the application form) must be summarised in a single PDF(maximum 5 MB) and received by the Cultural Department by 11:59 pm on the specified application deadline date.

Applications that are not complete and submitted by the deadline cannot be considered.

Please note that for technical reasons, an automatic confirmation of receipt can only be configured once per sender. This automatic e-mail does not confirm whether the application has been submitted in full and on time. If you do not receive an automatic confirmation of receipt within 30 minutes, please contact us immediately.

Legal basis

The City Council of the City of Munich will decide on the award in the Culture Committee on the recommendation of an expert jury.

You will receive written notification shortly after the jury procedure has been completed and the City Council has made its decision. Please refrain from making further enquiries.