Open Call: CoMuse Fellowship (Grant) international

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

CoMuse is an initiative of the Ethnologisches Museum and the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in Berlin. It develops multiperspective approaches to collection-based research and tests new formats of international collaborative processes to intensify the decolonisation and diversification of museum practices in sustainable ways.

About the CoMuse Fellowship

The CoMuse Fellowship program 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. We invite applications for two CoMuse Fellowships in 2025, beginning in July and October 2025. 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.

Your profile

Place of residence: worldwide, outside of Germany
Language proficiency: applicants should have at least moderate proficiency in spoken English and be able to participate in discussions.
We welcome 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
Diversity-sensitive competence

Proposals should address questions, practices or specific themes related to the collections of the Ethnologisches Museum or the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, suggest new ideas and engage with the CoMuse themes.

We offer you

2- or 3-month fellowships: October – November 2025 / July – September 2025
A monthly stipend of €3,000 to cover living and production costs
A fully equipped studio at Künstlerhaus Bethanien
Coverage of 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 in carrying out the research by the museum’s teams and the Fellowship coordinator
Support and advice in the application process for a short-stay Visa
A platform and opportunity to present the research online and in a public event

We encourage and welcome

CoMuse is dedicated to a culture of appreciation, respect, learning and listening while constantly challenging the colonial legacies within the museums’ collections.

It is very important to us to actively promote diversity, equality and a discrimination-critical environment in our institution. We welcome all applications regardless of nationality, cultural or social background, religion, gender or sexual identity, disabilities, or age.

People who have experienced structural discrimination, racism or marginalization (e.g. BIPoC – Black, Indigenous, People of Colour or people with a migration or refugee background) are especially encouraged to apply for a CoMuse Fellowship.

Questions about the field of activity

Ms. Kabalan

+49 30 265950010

Questions about the application procedure

Fellowships.comuse@smb.spk-berlin.de

Your application contains

A letter of motivation (maximum 1 page) explaining your areas of interest and research as well as your experience with working with museums
A project proposal (maximum 2 pages) that addresses one or more of the themes in the open call with a specific description of the planned research process and how you wish to participate in one of our public formats
A CV/résumé (maximum 2 pages)

Please note: We do not accept applications sent via Email. Applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be considered.

Please inform yourself thoroughly on the websites of the Ethnologisches Museum and the Museum für Asiatische Kunst as well as on the website collections online before applying for a fellowship.

Last day to apply: 15th November 2024