Are you a curator, restorer, or culture manager passionate about transforming museums? The ifa Scholarship on the Management of Cultural Heritage & the Transformation of Museums and Exhibition Centres 2026 offers a chance to deepen your skills through international exchange. This program supports cultural practitioners from DAC list countries to work with host institutions in Germany or beyond.
Program Overview
The ifa Scholarship aims to build professional knowledge across borders. It focuses on transcultural dialogue with cultural heritage, collections, and archives. Participants create sustainable networks and promote open debates in art and science. The scholarship supports stays at non-commercial host institutions, like museums or exhibition centers. Holders work on mutual knowledge transfer to foster trust and democratic societies.
Key Thematic Focus Areas
This scholarship targets changes in museums based on the 2023 ICOM museum definition. Main areas include:
- Cultural participation: Ways to involve more people from diverse backgrounds.
- Sustainability: Practices to make museums eco-friendly and long-lasting.
- Non-discriminatory spaces: Designs that welcome everyone without bias.
- Decolonial working methods: Approaches to address past colonial influences in collections and displays.
These topics help modernize institutions for today’s world.
Scholarship Benefits
The program provides solid financial support:
- A monthly net payment of EUR 1,500.
- Family allowances: EUR 250 for a spouse and EUR 250 per child if they travel with you.
- Coverage for visa costs.
- Round-trip travel expenses.
- Health insurance for you and your family.
- A monthly public transport pass in your host city.
- Up to EUR 500 for a language course.
This package lets you focus on your work without money worries.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is for:
- Curators.
- Restorers.
- Mediators.
- Culture managers.
You must:
- Work with cultural heritage, collections, or archives in an institution.
- Partner with a non-commercial physical host institution and create a joint concept note (this is key for selection).
- Have finished higher education or vocational training.
- Know English well (German or the host country’s language helps but is not required).
Applicants come from countries on the DAC list.
How to Apply
Prepare a full application with your host institution’s input. Submit online through the official forms:
- For stays in Germany: Use the main application form.
- For optional reciprocal stays (from Germany to a DAC country): Use the reciprocal form.
Incomplete, late, or emailed applications will not count. Check the ifa website for details.
Important Deadline
Submit by June 30, 2026. Start early to develop your concept note with a host. This opportunity can transform your career in cultural heritage management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the ifa Scholarship?
Curators, restorers, mediators, and culture managers from DAC list countries who work with cultural heritage and have a partner host institution qualify. You need higher education or vocational training and good English skills.
What benefits does the scholarship offer?
It provides a monthly net payment of EUR 1,500, family allowances, visa costs, round-trip travel, health insurance, a public transport pass, and up to EUR 500 for a language course.
What are the main focus areas?
The program targets cultural participation, sustainability, non-discriminatory spaces, and decolonial methods to update museums based on the 2023 ICOM definition.
When is the application deadline?
You must submit your full application by June 30, 2026, online through the official ifa forms with your host institution.
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