Organizer Information:

4A_Lab is a joint program of the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut and the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK). It is dedicated to transdisciplinary research, combining historical inquiry with critical engagement in contemporary debates like ecology, migration, digital transformation, and the future of museums.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the 4A_Lab Fellowships 2026/2029.

This fully funded residential fellowship is an exceptional opportunity to deepen your art research and actively collaborate with international museums, collections, and archives. The program connects art histories, archaeologies, anthropologies, and aesthetics, fostering dialogue across disciplines.

Researchers are invited to study objects, artifacts, and aesthetic practices within their historical, social, and historiographical dimensions. Proposed projects should focus on the ecologies of objects and practices, particularly those kept in the expansive collections of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) in Berlin.

Category:

Research / Fellowship / Multidisciplinary.

(Art History, Aesthetics, Archaeology, Anthropology/Ethnology, and neighboring fields).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Early and mid-career scholars. Applicants must have obtained their master's degree (for predoctoral) or their doctorate/PhD (for postdoctoral) within the last seven years prior to applying.
  • Scope: International applicants are highly welcome.
  • Requirements: A clear reference in the proposed research project to the collections or histories of the SPK institutions is strongly encouraged.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Duration: 6 to 36 months (predoctoral) and 6 to 24 months (postdoctoral), starting September/October 2026 or May 2027.
  • Funding: Paid employment contracts following the Max Planck Society guidelines (doctoral funding contract or postdoctoral TVöD Bund E13).
  • Support: Administrative and organizational support for visas, insurance, and housing in Berlin.
  • Engagement: Active participation in seminars, site-specific workshops, and an intellectually stimulating institutional network.

Application Fee:

Free.

Application Requirements:

Submit the following as PDF files via the KHI portal:

  1. Motivation Letter: Max. 500 words.
  2. CV: Including academic background.
  3. Project Description: Max. 4 pages/1,600 words.
  4. Writing Sample: An article, conference paper, or dissertation chapter.
  5. References: Names and contact info for two referees.
  6. Host Indication: Your preferred host institution(s) within the SPK.(All documents must be in English).

How to Apply?

Submit your complete application via the KHI application portal.

Key Dates:

  • Portal Opens: January 31, 2026.
  • Application Deadline: March 10, 2026.

Location:

Berlin, Germany (Residency required).

Contact Information:

Email: 4a_lab@khi.fi.it

Website: 4A_Lab Information | Application Portal