Ampersand (&) Grant
An Initiative in Support of Artists
13 September 2026 – final day of the festival
The Ampersand (&) Grant is an initiative of Kirill & Friends and Kibbuz—Center of Art, Culture, and Education e.V. dedicated to artists who have continued their artistic work in Germany after relocating from other countries.
Conceived as a gesture of recognition, trust, and support, the grant honors artists whose work has enriched Germany’s contemporary cultural landscape in recent years, reflecting the diverse experiences, artistic practices, and perspectives that shape it today.
Four experts representing different cultural fields—Birgit Lengers, Joachim Lux, Simon Mraz, and Kirill Serebrennikov—independently nominate artists whose work and personal journeys they consider especially significant. Together, they select five recipients. Importantly, the grant is awarded not to long-standing collaborators or friends of Kirill & Friends, but to artists with whom the company has not previously worked.
On the final day of the Kirill & Friends Berlin Festival, the five recipients will be announced and presented with the Ampersand (&) Grant. More than an award ceremony, this moment symbolically welcomes new artists into the Kirill & Friends community. Rather than concluding the festival, the grant carries its ideas forward by fostering new professional connections, encouraging dialogue, and opening opportunities for future collaboration.
Birgit Lengers
Ampersand (&) Grant
At the heart of the Ampersand Grant lies the symbol “&”. It does not stand for unity, but for connection. It creates a space where different perspectives, experiences, and artistic languages can coexist without losing their individuality.
The artists selected for the grant draw on experiences of migration, exile, loss, and renewal. Their work takes shape between languages, memories, and cultures, demonstrating that identity is not fixed but continuously reshaped through movement and encounters.
The Ampersand (&) Grant is not a competition, but a gesture of recognition. It celebrates artistic practices that build connections across differences and reminds us that what unites us is not the erasure of diversity, but its acknowledgment.
Joachim Lux
Ampersand (&) Grant
Many artists have come to Germany in recent years due to exile, migration, displacement, and forced relocation. Rebuilding an artistic career in a new cultural environment while preserving one’s own voice is an enormous challenge. Many of these artists continue to face uncertainty and remain artists at risk.
The Ampersand (&) Grant draws attention to artists who have succeeded in continuing their work under these circumstances. Their stories demonstrate that a meaningful new beginning is possible and can serve as encouragement for others facing similar challenges.
Simon Mraz
Ampersand (&) Grant
Kirill Serebrennikov and the community around Kirill & Friends have created far more than artistic projects. They have built an environment based on friendship, solidarity, and mutual support.
The Ampersand (&) Grant continues this spirit. It is not an act of charity, but an act of recognition for artists who have succeeded in establishing themselves and continuing their creative work in a new country.
Beyond honoring its recipients, the grant sends an important message: a new beginning is possible. At a time when many artists face displacement, pressure, and uncertainty, such recognition offers hope, encouragement, and inspiration for others.
What welcome news in a world that is growing colder and more frightening in far too many places these days.