Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen

Scholarship on the management of cultural heritage and the transformation of museums and exhibition centres

Behind a marked glass pane stand people.
View of the ifa Gallery Berlin, Photo: Victoria Tomaschko

Supported by the Alexander Rave Foundation of ifa

 + + + Application deadline: 30 June 2026 for scholarships beginning after 1 February 2027. + + + 

 

This scholarship enables cultural practitioners from countries on the DAC list to stay with host institutions. The purpose is to enable scholarship holders to deepen their professional knowledge transnationally, to introduce new perspectives and to build long-term cooperation through exchange. Thus, the scholarship strengthens ifa’s contribution to creating worldwide interpersonal understanding and trust and to promote democratic civil societies.

The focus is on transcultural dialogue and engaging with cultural heritage, collections and archive records. Funding is provided for mutual knowledge transfer and the creation of sustainable networks. At the same time, the scholarship makes a contribution to supporting freedom in art and science, freedom of opinion and open debates.
 

What thematic focal areas are there?

Transforming museums and exhibition venues in line with the ICOM definition of museums (2023).

The focal areas are: 

  • cultural participation
  • sustainability
  • non-discriminatory spaces
  • decolonial working methods

Who can apply?

  • curators
  • restorers
  • mediators
  • culture managers

What does the scholarship include?

The scholarship covers the following:

  • A net payment of EUR 1,500 per month
  • monthly family allowances for family members travelling with you (EUR 250 for a spouse, EUR 250 per child)
  • visa costs
  • travel costs for the outward and return journeys (information document)
  • health insurance (including family)
  • monthly travel pass for public transport in the city of residence
  • up to EUR 500 for a language course

What types of funding are there?

Stay in Germany (country on the DAC list→Germany)
Optional reciprocal stay (Germany→country on the DAC list)

Country on the DAC list → Germany: Stays in Germany for cultural practitioners whose permanent residence is in a country on the DAC list.

A three to six-month scholarship for a person from a country on the DAC list at a German host institution.
The scholarship holder and the host institution jointly develop a project with

  • a specific connection with a collection or
  • a connection with an institutional transformation process.

The host institution must have a physical location and have a collection or an archive.

A temporary stay in other countries (for example, residences) outside the funding period is permitted.

Germany → country on the DAC list (optional reciprocal stay): Stays in countries on the DAC list for cultural practitioners whose permanent residence is in Germany.

If synergies arise as a result of a tandem project, funding may be provided for a supplementary two to twelve-week stay in a country on the DAC list for a person from the German host institution at the home organisation of the scholarship holder.

  • A joint application must be made for both stays (country on the DAC list → Germany and Germany → country on the DAC list)
  • and both residences must take place in the same scholarship year.

A temporary stay in other countries (for example, residences) outside the funding period is permitted.

What needs to be noted in relation to the application?

  • A maximum of ten scholarships are awarded per year
  • Stays in Germany: 3 to 6 months
  • Optional reciprocal stay in a country on the DAC list: 2 to 12 weeks
  • Calls for applications: in April each year

What are the funding requirements?

Applicants must:

  • work with cultural heritage, collections and/or archive records in institutional contexts
  • name a non-commercial, physical host institution for each stay and submit a specific concept note drawn up jointly with the host institution (this is decisive for the award of scholarships!)
  • have completed their higher education or vocational training;
  • have a very good knowledge of English (German or the language of the country of the host institution is an advantage, but not mandatory)

Exclusion criterion:

  • another scholarship or parallel residence during the funding period

The stay must take place between February and December 2027. The scholarship is an on-site scholarship that requires regular attendance at the host institution. Scholarship holders must prepare a final report.

Applications by Black people, people of colour, women, LGBTQIA+ persons, people with disabilities and members of historically marginalised groups, in particular people from colonialised contexts, are actively welcomed.

What conditions apply to host institutions?

Host institutions must:

  • verifiably be non-profit museums, galleries or cultural/research institutes,
  • have a physical location and have a collection or an archive
  • nominate a specialised contact person for the scholarship holder
  • draw up a specific project together with the applicant

Further information:

  • List of host instutions to date
  • ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen is not a host institution
  • When German tandem partners stay in countries on the DAC list, scholarship payments are administered by the host institution.

What is the application process for prospective scholarship holders and/or host institutions?

Stay in Germany (country on the DAC list→Germany)
Optional reciprocal stay (Germany→country on the DAC list)
  • All applications must be made using the online form
  • All the documents must be prepared in full before applying as temporary storage is not possible
  • Applications that are incomplete, arrive late or are submitted via e-mail will not be considered

 

Apply now for a scholarship in Germany!

  • All applications for a reciprocal stay must be made using the online form
  • All the documents must be prepared in full before applying as temporary storage is not possible
  • Applications that are incomplete, arrive late or are submitted via e-mail will not be considered

 

Apply now for a reciprocal stay in a DAC country!

Application steps for a stay in Germany (to be submitted by the applicant or the host institution)

If a reciprocal stay is planned, all documents for both travel lines must be submitted via the respective application form.

Applicant:

  • make arrangements with the host institution
  • look for a host institution
  • obtain evidence of the institution's status as a non-profit organisation or corporation under public law (see below)
  • agree on the length and dates of stay
  • jointly designate a contact person and obtain their contact details
  • prepare a joint concept note (see "host institution" below)
  • optional: check whether carrying out the travel process in reverse order would enable additional insights to be gained

 

1. Compile the following documents and prepare in PDF format:

  • evidence of the last two stages in one PDF
  • a letter of invitation from the host organisation for the planned scholarship stay
  • a concept note developed jointly by the host institution and the applicant signed by both (1 to 2 pages or up to 1,800 characters), giving information on the tasks and responsibilities of the planned stay.
  • evidence of the institutions’ status as non-profit organisations or corporations under public law in the form of an extract from the association register or similar certificate
  • a reference from the applicant’s country of origin, for example from a supervisor in the applicant’s home organisation or workplace

 

2. Prepare the following personal information:

  • personal data (see application form)
  • if relevant, the validity of an existing visa for Germany
  • stages in your CV that are relevant to the scholarship including evidence of the last two stages (for example, references)

 

Applicant or host institution:

  • submit the complete application

Application deadlines and dates

  • The application deadline is 30 June 2026.
  • The earliest starting date for scholarships is 1 February 2027, depending on (visa) requirements having being met.
  • The end of the scholarship may not be after 31 December 2027.
  • Applicants will generally by notified by e-mail by September 2026.

Please address the PDF documents to the following recipient:

Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e. V.
Alexander Rave-Stiftung
Charlottenplatz 17
D-70173 Stuttgart
Germany

It is not necessary to send the documents by post.

The Alexander Rave Foundation was established using an endowment by Hamburg businessman Alexander Rave and is a dependent non-profit foundation administered by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen.

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