Application deadline: 7 February 2026
Grant value: From 85,000 AED – 245,000 AED per recipient, depending on grant category
About Louvre Abu Dhabi
Created by an exceptional agreement between the governments of the United Arab Emirates and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi opened on Saadiyat Island in November 2017 as part of its Cultural District.
Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates the universal creativity of mankind and invites audiences to see humanity in a new light. Through its innovative curatorial approach, the museum focuses on building understanding across cultures through stories of human creativity that transcend civilisations, geographies, and times.
The museum’s growing collection is unparalleled in the region and spans thousands of years of human history, including prehistoric tools, artifacts, religious texts, iconic paintings, and contemporary artworks. The permanent collection is supplemented by rotating loans from French partner institutions, as well as regional and international museums
Programme Overview
Launched in 2024, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Fellowship Programme enters its second edition in 2025. Building on the achievements of its inaugural year, the programme continues to support scholars and museum professionals through both short-term and long-term fellowships, consolidating the museum’s role as a global platform for research and knowledge exchange.
The Research Programme focuses on transversal areas such as art history, archaeology, museum studies, collection studies, and heritage science. Its aim is to foster groundbreaking research through collaboration with scholars and institutions both regionally and globally.
The programme is structured around three thematic axes:
- Global History of Collections and Museums
- Styles of Circulation: Texts and Images
- Exchange of Routes and Precious Materials
These axes address key topics of art historical scholarship while also advancing research initiatives beyond the museum’s walls.
At the core of the programme are Louvre Abu Dhabi’s research facilities, including:
- The Library
- The Conservation Centre
- The Scientific Laboratory (the first of its kind in the Gulf region, allowing for material analysis of artworks)
Programme activities include symposiums, workshops, and publications aimed at stimulating dialogue and disseminating knowledge around the museum’s collections and related themes.
Eligibility and Application
Researchers and scholars specializing in:
- Art History
- Archaeology
- Museum Studies
- Heritage Science
- Conservation
- Related fields
are encouraged to submit proposals aligned with one of the three thematic axes related to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collections.
Each application must:
- Entail significant research activity
- Be feasible throughout the project period
- Follow the specific requirements of the chosen grant category (Short-term or Long-term Fellowship)
Resources to assist in application preparation:
- Online Collection Portal
- Library Catalogue
Selection Criteria
Prospective fellows will be evaluated based on:
- Research background
- Ability to demonstrate originality and quality of the proposed research
- Alignment with the programme’s mission
- Engagement with Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collections, resources, and facilities
- Feasibility of the proposed methodology
For thematic axes, grant value, and application guidelines, please visit the link below.
