Impuls neue Musik is a Franco-German-Swiss fund for contemporary music. It accompanies and finances projects aimed at creating new works and disseminating contemporary music in German- and French-speaking countries (Germany, France, Switzerland).

The Impuls Fund initiative was launched in March 2009, by French and German cultural institutions convinced of the need for a common fund to promote Franco-German actors in contemporary music.

These include the French Embassy in Germany, the Ministry of Culture and Communication, SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers), the French Music Export Office, the Francis and Mica Salabert Foundation, and Arte Actions Culturelles. Other organizations have joined us little by little, for one or more years: the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung and the Goethe Institute in 2011, the BKM (Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien) in 2012, the Deutsche Bank for the Franco-German year 2012/2013, the Alfred Toepfer F.V.S. Foundation in 2014. The Kunststiftung NRW (North Rhine-Westphalian Art Foundation) has also been a partner of Impuls neue Musik since Art Committee 9. In 2019, Musikfonds e.V. becomes a partner of Impuls neue Musik.

Over the years and through its projects, Impuls neue Musik has developed, strengthened and acquired a European aura, thanks to the relevance of its artistic arbitrations conducted by an independent artistic committee of recognised experts and its unique transnational positioning.

In 2018 it was joined by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, making Impuls a Franco-German-Swiss fund. It now extends beyond the borders of Germany and France, taking into account two linguistic and cultural areas, German-speaking and French-speaking. 

Since the beginning, the fund has committed more than 1 million euros and supported more than 185 projects and over 300 composers.

Objectives

The name Impuls, of German origin, emphasizes the very first objective of the fund: to give an impetus to contemporary French, German and Swiss music by promoting long-term exchanges between these cultural and musical spheres.

The Impuls projects go far beyond the mere representation of contemporary works from the three cultures: at the centre of all the projects is a real dialogue between musicians, works and aesthetics. Through the financing of commissioned works, Impuls also has a decisive influence on the creative work of these countries.