Hamburg’s INTRO programme connects professional artists in exile and cultural institutions
Project: Introducing refugee artists to the city’s cultural scene
Since 2019, Hamburg’s Ministry of Culture and Media has implemented INTRO, a pioneering programme that promotes cultural inclusion and supports professional refugee artists living in Hamburg. INTRO is designed as an ‘introduction’ to the city’s cultural landscape, helping refugee artists enter professional networks while encouraging cultural institutions to become more open, inclusive, and internationally connected.
At its core, the programme fosters cultural exchange by pairing artists with Hamburg-based cultural institutions – including theatres, galleries, cultural associations, and collectives – for a collaborative 12-month period. Institutions receive EUR 500 per month for materials or services such as stage design, interpreting, or language courses, while artists receive a EUR 1,500 monthly grant. The objective is to co-produce a creative project and build a mutually beneficial relationship.
Challenges to inclusion and transformation
A significant barrier to effective cultural inclusion strategy is the lack of direct connections between cultural institutions and refugee communities. Many Hamburg institutions historically lacked pathways to reach refugee artists or to understand their professional needs and contexts. Additionally, restrictive visa issues and uncertainties about long-term career prospects presented serious challenges for artists in exile.
Institutional structures themselves, often shaped over decades without diversity at the centre, can be slow to change. INTRO addresses these tensions by promoting eye-level collaboration and supporting institutions in reevaluating their internal practices, fostering environments that are more welcoming, flexible, and representative of global creative practices.
Supporting transformation and long-term inclusion
INTRO is not only a funding mechanism – it is a structured learning process. Alongside the institutional collaborations, the Ministry offers a robust workshop programme for participating artists. These workshops cover practical topics like navigating the German cultural sector, funding applications, and portfolio development. Artists are also invited to continue attending workshops after their year in the programme, reinforcing long-term impact through network-building and peer support.
Institutions, meanwhile, benefit from moderated diversity workshops that help them reflect on anti-discrimination strategies, cultural sensitivity, and equitable representation. This dual approach helps evolve both individual careers and institutional mindsets.
Impact on cultural inclusion and exchange
The long-term aim of INTRO is to integrate refugee artists into Hamburg’s professional cultural scene – either within institutions or as independent practitioners – while helping those same institutions reflect and evolve their practices. INTRO enhances the visibility of often underrepresented voices and supports a broader, more inclusive understanding of artistic value.
By supporting both refugee artists and cultural institutions, Hamburg’s INTRO programme is an exemplary cultural inclusion strategy that promotes genuine cultural exchange and long-term transformation across the city’s cultural landscape.
