Organizer Information
The Vereinigung der Kunsthistorikerinnen und Kunsthistoriker in der Schweiz (VKKS) is a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of art history in Switzerland. It supports research, academic exchange, and collaboration among art historians at all career stages. In partnership with the Alfred Richterich Stiftung, a foundation committed to fostering cultural and academic excellence, VKKS co-organizes the Förderpreis Kunstwissenschaft. This prestigious award aims to recognize and promote outstanding scholarly contributions in art and architectural history, reinforcing Switzerland’s role as a hub for rigorous academic discourse in the humanities.
Title & Description
Förderpreis Kunstwissenschaft 2026 – Art History Award (Switzerland)
The Förderpreis Kunstwissenschaft 2026 is a competitive academic award designed to honor exceptional scholarly writing in the fields of art history and architectural history. The prize recognizes works that demonstrate above-average academic quality, originality, and methodological rigor.
The award is divided into two categories:
- Junior Prize (CHF 4,000)
- Senior Prize (CHF 6,000)
Applicants are invited to submit research texts that engage with art or architectural history topics spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day. Both published and unpublished works are accepted, provided they meet the submission criteria. The initiative not only rewards academic excellence but also provides a platform for emerging scholars to gain recognition within the international art history community.
Winning candidates will be invited to present their research in a public academic setting and may have their work published in the open-access platform Péristyle, increasing visibility and dissemination.
Categories
- Art History
- Architectural History
- Academic Research / Writing
- Humanities Scholarship
Eligibility
- Open to students and doctoral candidates
- Applicants must be currently residing in Switzerland or professionally active in Switzerland
- Must be enrolled at a university at the time of submission
- Category-specific criteria:
- Junior Category: Applicants must not have completed their Master’s degree
- Senior Category: Applicants must not have completed their PhD (doctoral defense)
- Open to all nationalities, provided the residency/affiliation condition is met
Program Benefits & Awards
- Junior Prize: CHF 4,000
- Senior Prize: CHF 6,000
- Opportunity to present the awarded research in a 20-minute academic lecture
- Potential publication in the Open Access library Péristyle
- Professional recognition by a respected jury of art historians
- Visibility within the Swiss and international academic community
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:
- Research text (maximum 30,000 characters, including spaces and footnotes, excluding bibliography)
- Text must be anonymous (no personal identification within the document)
- Supporting image material (if applicable)
- Signed application form
- Proof of university enrollment
- Separate form containing personal details (submitted independently to ensure anonymous review)
Additional requirements:
- Text must not be older than two years
- Accepted languages: German, French, Italian, or English
- File format: PDF (max. 5 MB)
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email. Send all required documents in a single PDF to: info@vkks.ch
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 April 2026
- Evaluation Period: Until August 2026
- Notification of Results: After jury review (late summer 2026)
- Presentation Event: Date to be announced (selected winners will present their work)
Location
Additional Details
- Submissions are evaluated anonymously by a jury of at least five experts appointed by VKKS
- Jury decisions are final and non-appealable
- In exceptional cases, prizes may be awarded ex aequo (shared between candidates)
- The award emphasizes academic rigor, originality, and contribution to the field
- Selected works contribute to broader scholarly discourse and may gain long-term academic visibility through publication