ABC Incuba: From Idea to Action

Fostering Transnational Cultural Creation in Berlin

ABC Incuba is the evolution of ABC Kultur, a program that in its first edition provided theoretical tools on cultural management in Berlin. In this new phase, the focus is on moving from theory to practice, supporting the development of concrete cultural and artistic projects.

Aimed at transnational artists and cultural agents who identify as FLINTA (Frauen, Lesben, Intersex, nicht-binäre, trans und agender Personen), ABC Incuba offers a safe space (sicheren Raum) for experimentation, production, and sustainability of projects in Berlin.

The program is driven by Sorora e.V. and funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, as part of its support for the transnational artistic community in Berlin.

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Program Structure

🔹 Phase 1: Conceptualization and Strategy
🔹 Phase 2: Production and Experimentation
🔹 Work in Progress: Public Midterm Presentation
🔹 Phase 3: Rehearsals and Final Presentation

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Who is ABC Incuba for?

🔸 FLINTA artists and cultural agents who have migrated to Berlin and seek to develop their practice in the city.
🔸 Individuals or groups with a cultural project idea but lacking all the necessary tools to carry it out.
🔸 Creators with some prior experience, interested in professionalizing their work within Berlin’s cultural ecosystem.
🔸 Transnational artists and cultural workers who aim to consolidate their projects within the local scene.
🔸 Collaborative projects and group applications will be prioritized.

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What Kind of Projects Are We Looking For?

✔ Artistic or cultural projects with a social impact.
✔ Non-profit initiatives.
✔ Collaboratively developed projects.
✔ Open to all artistic disciplines.
✔ Projects that include a final public presentation.

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What We Offer

✨ A safe space for creation and professional development.
📚 Workshops with specialists in cultural management, funding, and artistic production.
🤝 Personalized mentorship and networking with industry professionals.
🎭 Public events to share processes and results.
🔸 Each selected project will receive €2,000 for its development.

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Objective of the Call

ABC Incuba calls on FLINTA transnational artists and cultural agents in Berlin to participate in an incubation process for cultural and artistic projects.

The objective of this call is to support the development of collective projects with a social impact, providing concrete tools for their execution, sustainability, and public presentation.

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Participation Requirements

To apply for ABC Incuba, applicants must meet the following requirements:

 ✅ Be of legal age, regardless of nationality.
✅ Reside in Berlin and develop their artistic or cultural practice in the city.
✅ Submit a non-profit artistic or cultural project with social impact and a final public presentation.
✅ Complete the application form, providing information about their background, objectives, and project methodology.
✅ Applications can be submitted individually or as a collective. For groups of two or more people, the funding remains €2,000 per project, not per person.
✅ The project must align with the program’s principles, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and cultural diversity in Berlin.

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Program Goals

ABC Incuba aims to strengthen and support the development of cultural and artistic projects with a social impact in Berlin, providing concrete tools for their sustainability, production, and public presentation.

🔹 Facilitate the professionalization and autonomy of FLINTA artists and cultural agents in Berlin by offering a safe space for experimentation and project development.
🔹 Support the materialization of cultural projects, ensuring they move from idea to action with financial, methodological, and practical support.
🔹 Provide specialized training in cultural management and funding through workshops and mentorships with sector experts.
🔹 Promote collective creation and networking, encouraging collaboration among transnational artists and cultural agents in Berlin.
🔹 Foster cultural projects with social impact, engaging with the community and culminating in a public presentation.
🔹 Expand visibility and access for transnational creators in Berlin’s cultural circuits, strengthening the presence of diverse and alternative projects in the city.

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Mandatory Workload

Participants must commit to the following minimum workload during the six-month residency:

 ✅ Weekly mentorship sessions with assigned mentors.
✅ One workshop per month, covering topics such as cultural management, funding strategies, production, and project sustainability.
✅ A midterm public presentation (Work in Progress event) to share project progress and receive feedback.
✅ A final public presentation, where the completed project will be showcased.
✅ Sufficient time dedicated to the development of their own project, ensuring consistent progress throughout the program.

Priority will be given to collaborative projects and group applications.

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Application Process & Deadline

 📌 How to Apply: Applications must be submitted digitally by completing the participation form
📌 Deadline: 12.04.2025.
📌 Available Spots: 6 projects will be selected to participate in the program.
📌 Program Duration: 6 months, from May to October 2025.
📌 Selection Results: Selected projects will be announced in April 2025.

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Commitments of Participants

Selected participants of ABC Incuba must comply with the following commitments throughout the program:

✅ Actively attend and participate in ABC Incuba activities, following a minimum attendance agenda agreed upon at the program’s start.
✅ Engage fully in the incubation process, progressing in their project development and taking advantage of mentorships, workshops, and workspace.
✅ Use the provided space and resources responsibly, respecting the program’s conditions and fostering a collaborative and respectful environment.
✅ Share project-related information for communication and visibility, allowing its dissemination across networks, promotional materials, and other platforms.
✅ Agree to be featured in the ABC Incuba directory, available on the project’s website.
✅ Present their project publicly twice:
🔹 Work in Progress Event – A midterm presentation to share progress and receive feedback.
🔹 Final Presentation – A closing event where the project will be showcased to the public.
✅ Manage the assigned budget responsibly, ensuring that the €2,000 grant is used for project development and providing justification if necessary.
✅ Participate in the program’s evaluation and documentation, giving feedback at the end of the residency to improve future editions.
✅ Acknowledge ABC Incuba and Sorora e.V. in all project credits and communications, recognizing the support received in future presentations or promotional materials.

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What kind of projects does ABC Incuba support?

We support innovative, socially impactful, and non-profit artistic and cultural projects that are new and developed specifically for this residency. Projects must be feasible within the budget (€2,000) and the program duration (six months). They must culminate in a public presentation and be collaborative in nature.

Examples of supported projects:

• A site-specific performance exploring public space and urban belonging, developed in collaboration with local communities.
• A soundscape installation that collects and reinterprets migrant experiences through recorded stories and experimental music.
• A short film or video art project that documents hidden narratives of transnational feminist activism in Berlin.
• A collective textile art piece incorporating embroidery, patchwork, or upcycled materials to tell migration stories through fabric.
• A public intervention project using light, projections, or temporary sculptures to reclaim urban spaces and amplify marginalized voices.

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Non-Discrimination Clause

ABC Incuba is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and discrimination-free environment. No participant shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other personal characteristic. We actively work towards promoting equality and ensuring a safe and welcoming space for all artists and cultural agents. Any behavior that constitutes discrimination, harassment, or any form of violence will not be tolerated and may result in the immediate removal from the program. We expect all participants to contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive creative environment.

For any further questions, please contact us at m.villanueva@sorora.org.