The Frankfurt LAB is a production space for rehearsing and performing experimental works in the fields of the performing arts (dance, theatre, performance) and contemporary music. Artistic responsibility is shared by its partners the Ensemble Modern, the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company, the Hessische Theaterakademie, the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main and the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm.

KfW Stiftung is an independent, non-profit foundation based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was established in 2012 by the KfW Bankengruppe. The foundation addresses major socially relevant transformative issues on the basis of three fields of activity: Ecology & Sustainability, Economy & Society and Arts & Culture. KfW Stiftung aims to actively shape change by offering opportunities to those who are advancing social transformation.

As a production space for rehearsing and performing experimental works in the fields of the performing arts and contemporary music, the Frankfurt LAB has offered residencies since 2014, in order to support artistic experimentation and to create sustainable synergies between the artists in residence and Frankfurt LAB partner institutions (Ensemble Modern, Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company, Hessische Theaterakademie, Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main and Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm).

Since 2021, Frankfurt LAB has been cooperating with the foundation KfW Stiftung as part of “Frankfurt Moves!”. “Frankfurt Moves!” is an initiative of the KfW Stiftung to promote artistic exchange and intercultural dialogue. In cooperation with Frankfurt LAB, international emerging artists working in the performing arts (performance, dance, theatre, music) are offered space and time for the (further) development of their artistic work.

Promising professional young artists from the performing arts sector, who were trained in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the WANA region, are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Special consideration will be given to those who live and work in the aforementioned regions at the time of application. The complete application criteria can be found in the open call.

A jury will select four artists / artistic teams (1 - 2 people) who will initially be invited to Frankfurt am Main for a four-week stay. There they will have access to the professional venue of Frankfurt LAB and receive dramaturgical support. At the end of their stay, they will have the opportunity to present the results publicly. After their residency in Frankfurt, the scholarship holders will receive support to continue their artistic research in their home contexts for another month. Virtual meetings will enable the dialogue between the artists and the institutions to continue, and cultural networks will be strengthened worldwide.
The scholarship program includes a stipend, documentation costs, travel and accommodation costs, and the opportunity to network with cultural professionals from the region.

Frankfurt Moves! is an initiative of the KfW Stiftung to promote artistic exchange and intercultural dialogue with different partners in the region. The scholarship programme in cooperation with the Frankfurt LAB supports international emerging artists in the performing arts.