Scholarship on the Management of Cultural Heritage and the Transformation of Museums and Exhibition Centres – Alexander Rave Foundation / ifa
Institution: ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen / Alexander Rave Foundation
Location: Germany (host institutions) + optional reciprocal stays in DAC-listed countries
Duration: 3 to 6 months (Germany-based stay)
Funding: €1,500/month + travel, visa, insurance, family allowances + additional support
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Start date: From 1 February 2027
This scholarship supports cultural practitioners working with cultural heritage, collections, and archival materials, enabling transnational residencies within museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. The programme promotes long-term cooperation, knowledge exchange, and institutional transformation through collaborative projects with host organisations.
Implemented by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen and supported by the Alexander Rave Foundation, the programme focuses on transcultural dialogue, democratic cultural exchange, and the rethinking of museums and exhibition spaces in line with the ICOM 2023 definition of museums.
Focus Areas
- Transformation of museums and exhibition centres
- Cultural participation and accessibility
- Sustainability in cultural institutions
- Non-discriminatory and inclusive spaces
- Decolonial approaches to collections and institutional practice
Eligibility Criteria
- Cultural practitioners working with heritage, collections, or archives
- Curators, restorers, mediators, and cultural managers
- Completed higher education or vocational training
- Strong English language skills (German or host country language is an advantage)
- Project developed jointly with a non-commercial host institution
- Host institution must have a physical site and a collection or archive
Programme Conditions
- Stays in Germany: 3–6 months
- Optional reciprocal stays in DAC-listed countries: 2–12 weeks
- Maximum of 10 scholarships awarded per year
- Projects must relate to collections, archives, or institutional transformation processes
- On-site residency required
- No parallel residencies or funding during the programme period
- Final report required upon completion
Funding
- €1,500 monthly stipend (net)
- €250 monthly allowance per spouse
- €250 monthly allowance per child
- Travel costs (outward and return journeys)
- Visa costs covered
- Health insurance including family coverage
- Local public transport pass
- Up to €500 for language course
