The Ethnologisches Museum and the Museum für Asiatische Kunst will award two fellowships in the framework of the project CoMuse – The Collaborative Museum for international applicants living outside of Germany.

The CoMuse Fellowship programme offers grants for research projects that allow fellows the opportunity to critically examine the collections and their contexts, to experiment with new research approaches, or to collaborate with museum’s staff to inspire new impulses in transcultural museum work. The CoMuse Fellowships focus on addressing specific issues related to the museum collections and practices, such as:

• Strategies of sharing knowledge and generating new forms of access
• Provenance research around specific cultural belongings from the collection
• Critical re-evaluation of historical narratives and language in the collection from a decolonial perspective
• Conservation
• Analysis of cultural techniques
• Community-centred approaches and outreach strategies

CoMuse Fellowships emphasise process, collaboration and exchange, and do not require a finalised outcome. Recipients will have the opportunity, space and resources to advance their research and engage with the Berlin public about their ideas and collaboration with the museum through various formats such as round tables, tours or workshops.

Eligibility 

The programme welcomes applicants from a variety of professional backgrounds and disciplines, including artisans, cultural practitioners, conservators, provenance researchers, educators, curators, journalist and cross-disciplinary early career researchers with a connection to or interest in the collections of these museums.

Support 

• 2- or 3-month fellowships (October – November 2025/July – September 2025)
• A monthly stipend of 3,000 EUR to cover living and production costs
• A fully equipped studio at Künstlerhaus Bethanien
• Travel expenses
• Access to the work studios of the Ethnologisches Museum and Museum für Asiatische Kunst, located at the Humboldt Forum and in Dahlem
• General support 
• Visa application support

CoMuse Fellowship 2025 application guidelines

Deadline: 15 November 2024

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