Accomplished artists and writers who face financial difficulty can receive support from German Artists’ Support fund. This is not considered to be a grant. Please refer to: www.bundespraesident.de for information about the German Support for Artists. Alternatively, the Emergency Association for German Art also provides support to artists in need. Please call: (030) 3043926 for more information.

As of 1 February 2003, foreign degrees can no longer be recognised. The only exception applies to parties concerned in section 10 of the Federal Act for the Displaced. The corresponding ANABIN database (www.anabin.de ), created by the Central Office for Foreign Education at the office of the Conference of Ministers of Education contains information about the comparability of foreign and German degrees. An exception exists for foreign degrees comparable to the German appellation of "State-approved music teacher".

It is worth presenting envisaged cultural projects to the competent Offices for the Arts and Culture in the corresponding districts. The corresponding Office for the Arts and Culture can be found under: www.berlin.de/verwaltungsfuehrer/kunst-kulturaemter

Members of these professional groups have the option to decide on pension plans and illness insurance with the Social insurance company for artists. If interested, please refer to the homepage of the Social insurance company for artists at: www.kuenstlersozialkasse.de

The Career & Transfer Service Centre of the University of Fine Arts (UdK) provides advice to students and graduates of UdK, the University for Fine Arts of Berlin-Weißensee, the „Hanns Eisler“ University for Music and the „Ernst Busch“ University for Dramatic Arts regarding prospects on the professional market and provides assistance tothose wishing to establish themselves independently. Please see: www.careercenter.udk-berlin.de for information about the UdK career centre.