The IGBK celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2017. It was founded in 1957 as the German National Committee of the International Association of Art (IAA), working in partnership with UNESCO, with the aim of bringing artists from Germany back into the international discourse.

In 1972, the three most important artist associations within Germany - BBK, Deutscher Künstlerbund and GEDOK - united in the IGBK for their international actions. Today the IGBK represents more than 14.000 visual artists residing in Germany on an international level.

We council visual artists on the possibilities of working opportunities and grants, both in Germany and abroad, and issue the IAA Professional Identity Card, as well as the "Certificate for the Customs Authorities" for artists residing in Germany. Since April 2013 the information portal www.touring-artists.info has been online, a joint project of the IGBK and the International Theatre Institute in Germany (ITI). The website provides information on visas/residence, transport/customs, taxes, social insurance, and copyright related to cross-border mobility for artists working internationally.

We organise symposia and workshops concerning training in the arts, communication, conditions, and the perspectives of contemporary art. Through these activities, IGBK seeks to stimulate new ideas, discuss solutions and sharpen the vision for future-oriented concepts. IGBK is engaged with several organisations and networks, particularly at the European level such as On The Move or Culture Action Europe, and currently acts as the office of IAA Europe.