Offenbach’s Soul OF Art Grants Celebrate Two Local Painters in 2026 Debut
Offenbach has awarded its first-ever Soul OF Art grants at the city’s annual New Year cultural reception. Two local painters received recognition for their work, with prizes totalling €12,000. The initiative aims to support professional artists living and working in the city.
The grants were presented on 19 January 2026 by Lord Mayor and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Dr. Felix Schwenke. He emphasised that the programme is designed to be inclusive, offering support to all eligible artists in principle. This year’s focus was on painting, with plans to rotate disciplines in future rounds.
Nearly 50 applications were submitted for the inaugural round. A jury selected two winners: Severine Henriette Meier received the main grant of €8,000 for her project I don’t care. Eyi Kim was awarded the emerging artist grant of €4,000 for her piece Residual Walls. Meier, originally from near the Loire, studied in Ghent before graduating from HfG Offenbach in 2022 with a Fine Arts degree. Kim, who comes from South Korea, completed her painting studies at the same university in 2024. Both artists have exhibited their work across various European cities. The next application period will open in the second half of 2026. The city hopes the grants will help sustain and raise the profile of Offenbach’s local art scene over time.
The Soul OF Art grants mark Offenbach’s latest effort to back its creative community. The two winning painters will use the funding to further develop their projects. Applications for the next round will focus on a different artistic discipline, following the programme’s rotating format.
