The Award

The Mortier Next Generation Award is presented every two years. It is awarded to support projects by artists who are at the start of their career and show exceptional talent. The award is endowed with € 30.000.

Fellowship

The Mortier Next Generation Award includes a short-term fellowship of several months at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Berlin Institute of Advanced Study), which, each academic year, offers residencies to an interdisciplinary group of scientists and artists. The design and organisation of the Mortier Fellowship reside with the Wissenschaftskolleg.

Our Support

The Mortier Next Generation Award supports projects in keeping with the spirit of Gerard Mortier, great innovator and visionary of the theatre. His principles and his philosophy are expounded in the volumes Gerard Mortier, “Dramaturgy of a Passion” and “The Theatre that Changes Us” ("Dramaturgie einer Leidenschaft" and "Das Theater, das uns verändert", both published by Bärenreiter/J. B. Metzler). Applicants are explicitly referred to these two books.

Only natural persons who have not yet reached the age of 35 are entitled to apply for the Mortier Next Generation Award. Applications for the Mortier Next Generation Award 2025 can be submitted until November 15th, 2024 – exclusively via email: [email protected]
All applications are to include a description and a budget overview which details the costs involved in the implementation of the submitted project. The description should not exceed 6.000 characters. It is possible to attach photos, sketches, videos or similar materials (large files please via WeTransfer). The decision on the award will be made by an independent jury in the first quarter of 2025.

Designated Use of the Prize Money

The prize money of € 30.000 is earmarked for the submitted project. With the prize money of 30,000 euros, the winner will have the opportunity to have their project performed as part of the Ruhrtriennale 2026.

The beneficiary is obliged to spend the amount exclusively for the project outlined in the application. In case the project is not implemented, the awardee is obliged to inform immediately the Association and to return any payments already received. The same applies in case of significant changes to the project, unless the Association’s Board of Directors gives written permission to these changes. In case of violation of these regulations – in particular in the event of non-implementation of the project, lack of reporting, or unauthorized alterations – the Association is entitled to reclaim any payments already made to the awardee. After the completion of the project, the awardee is obliged to submit a written report. Payment of all taxes and duties incurring with respect to the sponsored project is the sole responsibility of the awardee.

Kultur Ruhr has the right to perform the prizewinner's project as part of the Ruhrtriennale, but is not obliged to do so. As part of the overall artistic responsibility, the artistic director of the Ruhrtriennale, Ivo Van Hove, has the right of final artistic decision and thus the decision as to whether the project will be performed in the proposed form. If, contrary to expectations, a performance at the Ruhrtriennale does not materialise, the prizewinner is entitled to freely dispose of his or her work and to seek and permit performances at any other venue. In this context, the Ruhrtriennale must be named in the relevant credits; Kultur Ruhr GmbH will provide details in good time.