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Apply for funding from the "Nationally valuable cultural monuments" preservation program

The legal basis for the "Nationally Valuable Cultural Monuments" funding program expired on 31.12.2023. It is no longer possible to apply for funds from the funding program.

Responsible for you

Bundesverwaltungsamt

Street address

Barbarastr. 1
50735 Köln

Postal address

50728 Köln

Website

www.bva.bund.de

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Procedure details

The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) promotes measures for the protection and preservation of monuments. An important pillar of monument promotion is the monument preservation program "Nationally Valuable Cultural Monuments". The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) decides annually on the selection of objects and the amount of funding.
You can receive funding for the following measures:

  • Preservation and restoration of immovable, nationally valuable cultural monuments:
    • architectural monuments
    • historic parks and gardens
    • ground monuments

Cultural monuments are of national value if they contain exemplary

  • architectural
  • urban development,
  • historical,
  • political,
  • or scientific achievements or
  • if the cultural monument has made a significant contribution to the development of a cultural landscape or the state as a whole as a cultural nation.

You will not receive funding for

  • measures not recognized by the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments,
  • Renovation work,
  • conversion and use-related modernization measures,
  • building maintenance and operation,
  • movable monuments,
  • monuments directly owned by the federal states.

Eligible costs are

  • Expenditure that serves to preserve the substance and restore cultural monuments and their essential components.

You must prove that you have spent the grant on the preservation of a cultural monument. Among other things, you must keep all invoices and receipts relating to the eligible costs. You submit your application to the ZM I 6 department (BKM grants) at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA). You are not entitled to funding approval.

Information on further funding opportunities from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM):
You can obtain further funding via the special monument protection programs of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).

Applications can be submitted by

  • natural persons
  • legal entities
    • registered association
    • foundation under civil law
    • Limited liability company (GmbH)
    • public limited company (AG)
    • registered cooperative (eG)
    • Partnership limited by shares (KGaA)
    • Entrepreneurial company (UG)
    • Corporation under public law
    • Institution under public law
    • Foundation under public law
  • Associations of natural persons and/or legal entities
    • General partnership (OHG)
    • Limited partnership (KG)
    • Company under civil law (GbR)
    • Limited liability company & limited partnership (GmbH & Co KG)
    • Limited liability company & general partnership (GmbH & Co OHG)
  • Exception: monuments directly owned by the federal states

Further requirements:

  • a federal state must participate in your project with equal or at least appropriate budget funds
    • in justified individual cases, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) may allow exceptions
  • the state conservator must confirm the national significance of the cultural monument before the first application is submitted
  • the State Conservator approves the planned conservation measures
  • You must not have started with your measures yet
  • You must finance the measures yourself as far as is reasonable. Funding is only possible if you cannot finance the project without funding

  • Required Documents

    You must submit the following with your application

    • a positive and reasoned statement from the State Conservator (only for initial applications)
    • Building plans and suitable photographic material (only for initial applications):
      • Site plan
      • floor plan
      • General and interior view
      • Detailed description of the conservation measures for the application year and subsequent years (broken down by financial year)
      • List of the expected monument conservation costs and their financing up to the completion of the measure (broken down by financial year)
      • Proof of application for state funding
      • if the application was not submitted and signed by the owner of the cultural monument: Power of attorney

    Once you have completed your project, you must submit the following documents:

    • Proof of use of the funds

Seek advice from the relevant state monument authorities about funding opportunities and requirements.
You must submit the application for funding in writing to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

  • Go to the Federal Government's website and download the application form.
  • You fill in the application for your project electronically, print it out and sign it.
    • Notes:
      • 8 copies for initial applications
      • 2 copies for subsequent applications
      • If your project comprises several construction phases, you must submit a follow-up application for each additional construction phase.
  • A written statement from the State Conservator is required. You can apply for this via the respective State Monuments Office. The statement must confirm that the cultural monument is of national importance and that the planned conservation measures are supported.
  • You send the signed application together with the other required documents by post to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).
  • The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) decides on the entire program annually. In doing so, it takes into account the opinion of the state curator.
  • External experts are also consulted on initial applications.
  • You will then receive notification by post from the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) as to whether your application for funding has been approved.
  • Once you have completed your project, you must prove to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) that you have spent the funding on your project.

none

  • Application:
    • by October 31 for the following year
    • before the start of the measure
  • Proof of use of funds: deadline (usually 6 or 12 months) depends on the legal status of the applicant

  • at least 6 months

  • objection
  • Administrative court action

Status: 15.07.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Source: Federal Portal