Research Fellowships for Provenance Research - Instytut Pileckiego

Two Research Fellowships for Provenance Research on Cultural Property Losses during the German Nazi Occupation in Poland (2026/2027)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

ANNOUNCEMENT

Two Research Fellowships at the Pilecki Institute Berlin Provenance Research on Cultural Property Losses during the German Nazi Period in Poland (2026/2027)

1. Overview

The Pilecki Institute Berlin invites applications for two research fellowships in the field of provenance research for the 2026/2027 funding period.

The fellowships support scholarly research on war-related losses of cultural property in Poland during the period of German Nazi occupation (1939–1945). Projects may address issues such as Nazi art looting, expropriation, displacement, and destruction of cultural property, as well as the postwar history of their whereabouts. Applicants are encouraged to engage with both Polish and German collections, archives, or research institutions.

2. Eligibility

The fellowship is primarily intended for doctoral candidates in the humanities and related fields, including art history, history, provenance research, cultural studies, or closely related disciplines. Applicants must be actively pursuing a relevant doctoral project at the time of application.

In addition, applications are welcome from researchers and professionals working in the field of provenance research who are pursuing an independent project related to collections, museums, archives, or comparable institutions.

3. Thematic Framework

The fellowships are dedicated to the memory of the Polish resistance fighter Witold Pilecki. His actions exemplify resistance to the Nazi terror state and represent an early effort to systematically document and analyze mechanisms of totalitarian rule, including those of the communist regime in postwar Poland.

The program aligns with the mission of the Pilecki Institute Berlin, particularly its interdisciplinary research on twentieth-century totalitarian regimes. Drawing on comparative totalitarianism studies, memory studies, and cultural heritage studies, the Institute examines the structural, ideological, and administrative dimensions of state-sponsored violence. Particular attention is given to Nazi art looting and the systematic destruction of cultural identity as instruments of political, social, and symbolic control.

4. Fellowship Terms

The fellowship is awarded for a period of twelve months. The funding period is to be applied for between October 2026 and September 2027.

The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of EUR 1,800. No additional funding is available for travel, housing, or research expenses. The award of a fellowship does not constitute a legal entitlement.

5. Fellow Responsibilities

Fellows are expected to actively contribute to the intellectual life of the Pilecki Institute Berlin. Responsibilities include participation in the preparation of a planned conference and exhibition, presentation of the research project in the Institute’s research colloquium, involvement in additional Institute activities, and publication of the fellowship results in a peer-reviewed scholarly article.

6. Application Materials

Applications may be submitted in English or German and must include the following materials:

the application form (downloadable file), 
if applicable, a list of previous publications and presentations, 
a project outline of no more than 3,000 characters (including spaces), as well as a timeline, 
a tabular CV and/or portfolio including the following information: first and last name as well as place of residence of the applicant, telephone number or email address, and information on the applicant’s previous achievements or accomplishments, 
two letters of recommendation from academic, research, or cultural institutions (domestic or international) or from private individuals (as a PDF copy and in original form), 
a copy of the declaration on the processing of personal data (downloadable file), 
a copy of the consent form for the processing of data and images (downloadable file). 
The complete application documents must be compiled into a single PDF file. Only the two letters of recommendation must additionally be submitted in their original form.

7. Selection Process

Fellows will be selected through a competitive, merit-based review process. Evaluation criteria include:

scholarly quality and originality of the proposed project,
relevance to provenance research on cultural property losses in Poland during the German Nazi period,
engagement with relevant Polish and/or German collections or archives,
applicant’s academic background and research trajectory,
feasibility of the project within the fellowship period.
Final selection decisions are made by the Pilecki Institute Berlin based on the recommendation of an independent selection committee. Decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

8. Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted electronically to the Pilecki Institute Berlin no later than June 14, 2026. A decision will be made by July 15, 2026. The decisive factor is the time of electronic receipt.

9. Contact

For questions regarding this call, please contact:

Dr Elisabeth Katzy

Pilecki Institute Berlin

berlin@pileckiinstitut.de