Artist Training
ARTIST TRAINING has been a programme for artists at risk at the Berlin University of the Arts since 2016. The programme, which includes training and advisory services, includes sector-specific courses, workshops on self-employment, instructional films, excursions and one-to-one consultations. In total, over 900 people from the fields of music, visual arts, performing arts, film and, initially, cultural journalism have been supported in their strategic positioning and further professional development. Over the years, a Germany-wide network has emerged through various projects, including: the KONRAD WOLF Film University Babelsberg (2016–2021), INTRO of the Hamburg Cultural Authority, Global Board Hannover (2020–21), the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts (2025–26) and Scholars at Risk Berlin-Brandenburg (2024 onwards). The overarching objectives are to transfer transcultural artistic practice into the cultural and creative industries and to the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK), and to foster networking and visibility within higher education institutions through working groups, specialist conferences and the Academic Freedom Week. In addition, internal event series, research papers, blog posts and podcasts on institutional transformation processes are being developed.
Course Programme
The programme of training courses includes sector-specific courses in music, visual arts, performing arts and film.
10–26 August: From Sound to Scene & Screen. Developing Your Music Career in Berlin: Collaboration, Visibility & Performance by Niki Yaghmaee
20–27 October 2026: Basic tools for a new start in the Berlin performing arts scene by Maryna Makarenko and Anna Volkland
Artist Training News
The new courses for the 2026 Artist Training course programme are published Music by Niki Yaghmaee and Performings Arts by Maryna Makarenko und Anna Volkland. The open call for facilitators is here.
German Courses for free are offered by Access Art Schools Berlin.
Artist Training Consultation artists at risk. Topics are the continuation of artistic or creative studies as well as scientific career at the UdK Berlin / Self presentation as an artist at risk / Positioning to the labour market as a freelancer / Networking in the artistic and creative fields / Applying for artist or project funding. Registration is here.
Radio feature: 10 years of Artist Training at Berlin Career College: Nabil Arbaain in conversation on radio3. Here.
Artist Training Diversity strategy at the UdK Berlin. The current internal challenges can be found in the documentation of the udk2030 Future Day "Diskursraum: Diversität" and in the "Thesis paper Migrant Society".
The Artist Training Lab on the topic "How to create a safer space I-III" is a continuation of the series of events on transformation processes since September 2020, focusing on the development of tools for a diversity-sensitive UdK Berlin. Reflection on the three workshops took place below in interviews of participants. The podcasts are published on the Critical Diversity Blog of the UdK Berlin and other providers: https://criticaldiversity.udk-berlin.de/diversity-podcast/. Next date is Artist Training Lab ist #13 Students, Scholars and Artists at risk - Allianzen am 9th of Juni 2023.
Contact
Universität der Künste Berlin
Berlin Career College / Zentralinstitut für Weiterbildung und Transfer
Bundesallee 1-12
D-10719 Berlin
Tel: +49 30 3185 2710
Fax: +49 30 3185 2690
artisttraining-ziw[at]udk-berlin.de
www.udk-berlin.de/ziw/artisttraining
Facebook with information about offers and fundings
Instagram with information about offers
Podcasts about diversity sensitive transformational processes
REGISTRATION: udk-berlin.de/ziw/artisttrainingregistrierung
Access Art Schools Berlin
Program consisting of: German courses, Get-together and Study consulting, Access Art Schools on Tour to the Berlin art academies, Common Ground meetings in Ukrainian und Farsi.
https://www.udk-berlin.de/service/access-art-schools-berlin/
Academic Freedom Week Berlin-Brandenburg 2026
Academic Freedom Week 2026 by Scholars at Risk Berlin-Brandenburg (SAR) and Berlin University Alliance
#19 May 2026 // Academic and artistic freedom in the context of conflict and war: Film Screening & Q&A – Screening
Berlin University of the Arts and the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF in cooperation with Institut français Berlin. More Information are here.
# 20 May 2026 // Public Conversation on a Decade of Change: (Re)Building Hosting Programs and Advancing Academic Freedom
More Information are here.
Alliances at UdK Berlin and more
#Offers of the UdK Berlin for students and artists at risk
Peer-to-peer offers from Common Ground for prospective students and students at risk.
Study consulting for prospective students and students at risk
Advice on scholarships and research projects at the UdK Berlin for academics and artists
Advise on discriminination for thoses affected
#Angebote von Kunsthochschulen für geflüchtete Menschen (DE)
#Overview of offers at Berlin's universities
#Network of Berlin universities: Scholars at Risk Berlin-Brandenburg
Archive 2016-2025
Information and press comments about previous projects Access Art Scholls Berlin, Artist Training Berlin (Senate of Berlin), Artist Training DIGITAL BASICS (DAAD), Artist Training ARTISTIC COLLECTIVES, Artist training for Professionals, Artist Training: Refugee Class for Professionals (ESF) and Refugee Class for Professionals can be found here Archive
Artist Training Mission 2025 (February 2025)
Overview Podcast Artist Training Lab (Mai 2024)
Code of Conduct der UdK Berlin, initiated through Artist Training (May 2024)
Documentation Artist Training DIGITAL BASIC (December 2023)
Article at ZIW-Blog (November 2022)
Documentation of the ARTIST CAREER FORUM II (July 2021)
Documentation of videos (December 2020)
Artist Training 2016-2020: Conversations on Exile (December 2020)
Documentation Artist Training: Refugee Class for Professionals (March2018)
Documentation of the ARTIST CAREER FORUM I (Decembember 2021)
Media documentation Artist Training 2016-2020 (December 2020)
