ECF Creative Research Fellowship: ERASMUS and the Making of European Belonging

About this call

To mark the 40th anniversary of ERASMUS in 2027, the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) offers one professional creative practitioner a €10,000 Creative Research Fellowship to explore the ECF archives held at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) in Florence and rediscover the ECF's role in the development and implementation of ERASMUS. The fellowship is research-led and not limited to a medium or discipline: the outcome, such as an installation, film, visual or multimedia work, should be conceived as a work that can be incorporated into the permanent or temporary exhibitions of the House of European History in Brussels, rather than a full exhibition. The research stay is expected in the first trimester of 2027, the work must be completed by 31 July 2027, and the presentation is planned for September 2027, subject to confirmation. Applications are assessed by the ECF, the HAEU and the House of European History on engagement with the archives, contemporary relevance, quality and originality, public engagement and feasibility; the fellow is selected in the second half of December 2026.

Who can apply

• Limited by country or region
• Medium: Installation / New Media / Video / Mixed Media
• Entry fee: See official site
• Open to professional creative practitioners who reside in a Council of Europe member state and can demonstrate a professional track record and substantial experience in developing and presenting research-based work suitable for a museum context. The fellowship goes to an individual, not a collective, though the project may involve collaborators whose costs are in the budget. Apply through the online form; applications and all supporting documents must be in English. Proposals should explain the research schedule (timing and duration of the stay in Florence, more than one visit is possible if justified) and give a realistic budget showing the project can be completed within the €10,000 grant. The HAEU provides no accommodation or studio; fellows arrange their own accommodation in Florence. The outcome should be a work that could be incorporated into the House of European History's permanent or temporary exhibitions, not a full exhibition or an installation requesting a dedicated space, and it must be completed by 31 July 2027.