Time has come, our non-profit organization BAI Social gUG is registered and able to act!

The purpose of BAI Social is to promote education, art, culture, science, and research as well as to promote aid for people persecuted for political, racial or religious reasons, for refugees and displaced persons, for civilian victims and the disabled as well as for people who are discriminated against because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

How BAI Social started

Over time, Berlin Art Institute received a growing number of inquiries from artists around the world facing difficult circumstances, from displacement and discrimination to challenges that disrupted their ability to continue creating. Their requests shared a common thread: a need for support, space, and an environment where they could safely pursue their artistic practice. It became clear that something had to be done.

BAI Social gUG was founded in 2024 to provide a safe environment where artists can continue their work, sustain their identity, and share their stories with other residents from all over the world.

To incubate, promote, and help realize this mission, BAI Studios GmbH has helped artists in distress by directly offering them free seats in the BAI Studio Program fully waiving the registration and participation fees for one or more blocks, provided they are based in Berlin and have successfully completed our application process and been selected for support. The costs for art production and artist supplies must be borne by the participant. There is no set number of seats. This depends on need, suitability, and availability of workplaces. Simultaneously, we also want to inspire and motivate other foundations to join in and support BAI Social´s mission as well.

Why BAI Social Is Needed Today!

Arts and Culture are the foundations of any free, civil, democratic society. Unfortunately, in times of crisis, artistic voices are often silenced first. Yet it is precisely in such times that they are most needed. Our mission is to provide artists and cultural actors a safe space with resources to continue developing their practice, engage with peers and share their voices despite of the challenges they face.

BAI Stands With Ukraine

In 2024 we started by supporting Ukrainian artists affected by the war. So far, we have proudly supported Ukrainian artists such as Oksana Mekta, Mariia Lutsak, and Sofiia Holubeva, who were able to find safety in Berlin, pursue their practice, and contribute to the cultural dialogue at BAI. Their presence underscores BAI Social’s mission: creating continuity for artists in times of rupture.

BAI Social Partner: Martin Roth Initiative

Since 2016 Berlin Art Institute has been a supporting partner and host organization for ifa – (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) CrossCulture Programme (CCP). The CrossCulture Programme (CCP) of ifa promotes civil society exchange worldwide across sectors like arts & culture, education, media, human rights and sustainability.

The next chapter in this long term collaboration with ifa is the Martin Roth Initiative (MRI), a joint project of ifa and the Goethe-Institut, providing temporary protective relocation for at-risk artists and cultural actors. Founded in 2017, MRI enables threatened individuals to continue their artistic work in safety, either in Germany or within their home regions. It also supports host organisations and provides emergency funding, strengthening the global cultural field in times of crisis.

BAI Social aims to take this mission even further by joining hands with Martin Roth intiative to support artists at risk from all over the world.

Invitation to Collaborate for Global Solidarity

As BAI support for artists in distress is growing, we invite embassies, foundations, cultural institutes, associations, and corporations with the same mission to join hands with BAI Social in sponsoring residencies for artists who need our support in these challenging times. Together, with these partners who share our commitment, we will ensure that artists facing displacement or marginalization find stability, recognition, and creative freedom.

BAI Social gUG (haftungsbeschränkt) is a transparent, non-profit, mission-driven corporation (Registered office: Berlin – HRB 261103 B – AG Charlottenburg) where all the support goes into programs and scholarships for our participants and community. Partners funding this mission will get recognition in all our communications and official donation receipt is provided as well.