What we do
Hamburg-Stipendium
Residential scholarship in the Elbehaus
The Toepfer Foundation's Elbehaus, which many of our partners and friends still know as our foundation's guest house, was reopened in a different form at the beginning of 2023 after a lengthy renovation phase. The house on Elbchaussee is now used as part of a residential scholarship that allows up to three scholarship holders to study and live there for two to six months at a time.
This enables up to three scholarship holders to live and study at the Elbehaus at the same time, giving them the opportunity to further develop their creative work while being integrated into the cultural, scientific and social life of Hamburg. In accordance with the Toepfer Foundation's statutes, only individuals who are active in the fields of art and culture, education, science, youth welfare, monument preservation, international understanding or nature conservation are supported.
The duration of a residential scholarship can be between eight weeks and six months. Scholarship holders are each provided with a private, furnished accommodation unit in the Elbehaus free of charge. The common rooms of the house can be used communally during the stay or individually by arrangement. In addition to the opportunity for undisturbed work and activities, the communal living together of the scholarship holders is intended to promote interdisciplinary exchange, dialog and encounters.
Alle Bilder: © Jakob Börner / @jakob_boerner
- Background of the scholarship
The Elbehaus was built in 1936 by Alfred Toepfer as a home for his parents. It is now owned by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S. and has been used as a residence and guest house since the early 1950s as part of the foundation's charitable activities. During his lifetime, Alfred Toepfer himself invited people to his home in order to initiate discussions and encounters in a homely and communal atmosphere. Following a conversion, the property now has 4 flats, 3 of which are to be used for residential purposes as part of a scholarship.
- Nature and scope of the scholarship
The Hamburg Scholarship offers particularly talented and qualified individuals the opportunity to further develop their creative work through an extended period of study and integration into the cultural, scientific and social life of Hamburg. The scholarships thus serve the purpose of further education.
In accordance with the purpose of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S., the residential scholarship supports individuals who are active in the fields of art & culture, education, science, youth welfare, monument preservation, international understanding or nature conservation.
The duration of a residential scholarship can range between eight weeks and six months.
Scholarship holders are each provided with a private, furnished accommodation unit in the Elbvilla free of charge for the duration of their residential scholarship. This scholarship is intended to relieve the scholarship holders of the corresponding living costs for accommodation in Hamburg. The three self-contained accommodation units each have their own sleeping and living areas as well as a bathroom and a kitchen.
Common rooms, such as the meeting room or the library, are available to all resident fellows, which can be used jointly or individually by arrangement during their stay.
In addition to the opportunity for undisturbed work, the communal living together of the fellows is intended to promote interdisciplinary exchange, dialogue and encounters. Joint projects and contributions to the temporary residential community in the form of joint activities, workshops or presentations are particularly welcomed. The common rooms can also be used by the scholarship holders for seminars or events organised by them, provided that the character of the house as a residential building is not called into question.
The scholarship does not include travel, transport, material and living costs outside of the provision of accommodation. It is possible to cooperate with other charitable foundations in awarding scholarships in order to cover these costs in addition to the residential scholarship.
- Application
Scholarship holders are currently selected in cooperation with partner institutions and through the Toepfer Foundation network.
A call for applications for residencies in 2024 will be published here shortly.
Institutions interested in a partnership can find a contact form below.
- Expression of interest for institutions
- References
Der Triumphzug des Thomas Mann von Matthias Schmoock
Zu neuem Leben erweckt - CUBE Magazin
Der Getreide-Tycoon Toepfer und seine illustren Gäste von Svante Domizlaff, aus: Elbchaussee – Menschen und Häuser an Hamburgs Straßen, Wachholtz Verlag 2018.
Contact
Greta Schlünz Head of Scholarships Programme, Head of Communications
+49 40 33 402 – 11schluenz@toepfer-stiftung.de