Eight Questions for Dr. Astrid Legge – Curator of the Provinzial Art Collection
Provinzial Insurance is not only dedicated to providing security and protection but has also been committed to supporting art and culture for many decades. Through regular acquisitions for its corporate art collection and targeted funding programs, the company particularly supports young artists on their journey. A key element of this support is the annual art scholarship awarded to graduates of the Düsseldorf Art Academy, designed to facilitate their entry into the professional art world.
Dr. Astrid Legge, curator of the Provinzial Art Collection, gives us insights into the background of the scholarship, the selection process, and the advantages of applying digitally with Artbutler NEXT – a software solution that enables professional organization, documentation, and presentation of artworks.
1. Dr. Legge, why does Provinzial award this art scholarship, and how long has it been in place?
Provinzial Insurance has been rooted in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Rhineland for nearly 200 years. As a company based in one of Europe’s most culturally rich regions, supporting the arts is truly part of our DNA. Düsseldorf, where our headquarters are located, is home to one of the world's most renowned art scenes, featuring its prestigious Art Academy, outstanding museums, and well-established galleries.
For many decades, we have contributed to preserving this unique cultural diversity through a wide range of funding initiatives. Since 2019, we have been focusing on nurturing young talent by awarding an annual scholarship in cooperation with the Düsseldorf Art Academy. This scholarship, totaling €12,000, is distributed in monthly installments and aims to help graduates transition into their freelance artistic careers without financial constraints. At this stage, most artists cannot yet sustain themselves through art sales alone, yet they need studio spaces, which can significantly increase their cost of living.
In addition to the financial support, I am delighted that for the first time, our scholarship recipients will receive a free one-year subscription to Artbutler NEXT, a professional art management software.
2. Who can apply for the scholarship, and what criteria are considered in the selection process?
The scholarship is open to all graduates who completed their studies in the previous winter or summer semester. There are no restrictions on the field of study – all disciplines are welcome, including painting, sculpture, photography, fine arts, stage design, and architecture.
3. How does the selection process work, and what criteria does the jury use to evaluate submissions?
Each fall, graduates receive our ‘Call for Applications’ for the upcoming scholarship, giving them a significant opportunity to present their digital portfolios to a distinguished jury. This jury changes annually but always consists of directors and curators from renowned cultural institutions such as the Kunstsammlung NRW, professors from the Art Academy, as well as independent artists and cultural journalists.
The primary evaluation criteria are the artistic and technical quality of the final projects, along with their innovative approach. We assess whether the works are conceptually and technically compelling in terms of the chosen theme and its execution, as well as their craftsmanship and originality. Occasionally, considerations such as diversity and previous funding of potential recipients may also play a role.
4. This year, applicants could submit their work digitally via Artbutler NEXT. What advantages does this digital application process offer to both artists and the jury?
The benefits of a digital application process via Artbutler NEXT are substantial. Since we include both winter and summer semester graduates, their final exhibitions take place months apart. While it is essential to view artworks in person—which our jury members do by attending these exhibitions—the digital application allows for a more comprehensive evaluation.
Beyond final projects, applicants can showcase additional works from their portfolio in their Artbutler NEXT ‘Showroom’ using images, videos, and text documents. This format offers more flexibility and a richer insight into their artistic practice than a traditional physical portfolio.
5. As a curator, how do you perceive the career development of young artists after graduation?
Artistic career paths after graduation vary widely. Unlike fields such as medicine, law, or business, where career trajectories are relatively predictable, many young artists have no clear direction after leaving the academy.
Graduates step out of the academy’s protective environment with their diplomas, often unsure of what comes next. Many leave Düsseldorf due to limited and expensive studio spaces, a longstanding issue in the city. Those who stay and are not immediately signed by a gallery typically need side jobs to cover living and studio expenses. Our scholarship, alongside other sponsorship initiatives and foundation grants, helps support exhibitions and innovative art projects that many artists organize independently.
6. Can you tell us about this year’s scholarship recipients? What particularly impressed the jury?
This year, Provinzial awarded its 7th art scholarship to two artists who shared the prize:
Enya Burger (*1996), from the class of Prof. Gregor Schneider, impressed the jury with her final project, Guided by Memories. Her work explored Physarum polycephalum, a slime mold known for its remarkable memory and learning abilities despite lacking sensory organs, a brain, or nerve cells.
She created a glass labyrinth where visitors navigated their way through accompanied by eerie soundscapes. At the labyrinth’s end, an incubator housed the yellowish slime mold, whose growth was tracked in real time, translated into sound, and played through speakers. The installation evoked scientific experiments using miniature mazes in petri dishes to study the intelligence and memory capabilities of this unusual organism.
Magdalena Frauenberg (*1996), from the class of Prof. Alexandra Bircken, captivated the jury with her blend of historical, mythological, and pagan traditions with contemporary technologies like digital rendering and CNC robotics.
Her final project examined the folklore and rituals of her native Tyrol, as well as classical portrait busts and sculptures from art history. She questioned traditional gender roles and how historical narratives on femininity influence modern social structures. Her CNC-robot-produced wooden sculptures—a fusion of tradition and modernity, craftsmanship and machine—stood out with their precise, sometimes exaggerated, and surreal aesthetic.
7. Provinzial has been engaged in art funding for many years. Is there a particular project or encounter that stands out to you personally?
Over the decades, Provinzial has supported countless exciting art projects, all of which are noteworthy. However, the most valuable experiences for me are the personal encounters—with the incredible artists, exhibition organizers, curators, and institutions with whom we have maintained strong relationships over the years.
8. What advice would you give to artists applying for scholarships or funding programs?
Applying for scholarships and awards is an important first step into the professional world. Once students leave the academy’s ‘safe space,’ it becomes crucial to gain visibility and financial support—especially for those who aspire to live off their art.
The application process itself is an invaluable learning experience. It encourages applicants to reflect on their work, define their goals, and decide how they want to present themselves. They must articulate and communicate their artistic vision clearly—an essential skill not only in the art world but in any professional field. Since art academies do not typically teach application skills, students should take advantage of funding opportunities early on and practice presenting their work.
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