The Goethe-Institut and the documenta archiv | documenta and Museum Fridericianum gGmbH are awarding two fellowships to international scholars, artists, and curators for the period from May 2026 to October 2026. Applications are especially encouraged from researchers working in contexts that have so far been underrepresented in the local art and academic landscape. For a period of six months, the fellows will be invited to work in Kassel, drawing on the rich holdings of the documenta archiv to pursue a project that opens up new perspectives on documenta and its transnational contexts.

The fellows will benefit from an intensive, material- and object-oriented working environment; exchange with scholars and artists on site; active integration into the research and public programs of the hosting institutions; as well as organizational and academic support. A presentation of the research results in Kassel and in internationally visible publication and dissemination formats is encouraged.

The Goethe Fellowship at the documenta archiv enables the exploration of a wide range of art-historical, artistic, and contemporary historical questions related to the documenta exhibitions, including through transdisciplinary approaches. Possible topics include those focusing on individual actors or groups, curatorial and artistic practices, or the mechanisms of art production, presentation, and reception in relation to documenta. The program seeks to create space for the critical reflection of Western European and North American–shaped discourses and for the development of alternative perspectives.

The duration of both fellowships runs from May 1 to October 31, 2026. Residency in Kassel is required. The fellowship provides a stipend of EUR 2,000 per month. Applicants should ideally have experience in archival research and possess German language skills at the C1 level. Applications from individuals whose primary place of work or residence is in Germany or in other German-speaking countries cannot be considered.

The application deadline is February 5, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. (CET).

Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the Goethe-Institut’s application portal. The portal will open on January 8, 2026. Further information about the Goethe Fellowship at the documenta archiv, the application process, and the link to the portal can be found on the Goethe-Institut’s website.

For inquiries, please contact:
– Regarding the fellowship: Eva Schmitt, Head of the Visual Arts Department at the Goethe-Institut, email: documentafellowship@goethe.de
– Regarding the documenta archiv: Birgitta Coers, Director, documenta archiv; Martin Groh, Research Associate, documenta archiv, email: archivdirektion@documenta.de