Organizer Information
The open call is issued by Fundación Botín, a Spanish private foundation based in Santander dedicated to fostering social, cultural, and educational development. Through its arts and culture initiatives, including the programming of Centro Botín, the foundation supports emerging and mid-career professionals in contemporary art, curatorial practice, and museum studies. Its long-running scholarship programs are internationally recognized for providing advanced training opportunities in leading institutions abroad, particularly in the fields of curating, exhibition-making, and cultural management.
Title & Description
BECAS FUNDACIÓN BOTÍN – Curatorial Studies & Museum Management (2026/2027, XX Edition)
This open call offers an international scholarship aimed at specialized professional training in exhibition curatorship and museum management, with a focus on contemporary art from the historical avant-gardes to current practices. The program is designed to provide comprehensive academic and practical education in the theory, methodologies, and technical frameworks of museum operations and exhibition production.
Selected fellows will pursue a full academic year of training at a chosen institution abroad, provided that the program is aligned with contemporary art studies. The scholarship emphasizes a holistic curatorial education, including research, exhibition design, institutional practice, and critical theory. Applicants must secure prior acceptance from the host institution before applying.
Categories
- Curatorial Studies
- Museum Studies
- Exhibition Design
- Art History (Contemporary Art Focus)
- Cultural Management
- Visual Arts Theory / Criticism
- Humanities / Aesthetic Studies
Eligibility
- International applicants are allowed only if they have Spanish nationality or legal residence in Spain for at least 5 consecutive years prior to application
- Age requirement: 22 to 40 years old
- Academic background in one of the following fields:
- Fine Arts
- Art History
- Philosophy and Aesthetics
- Literature
- Humanities
- Art Criticism
- Alternatively, professionals in the art field with demonstrable experience may apply even without formal academic qualifications
- Must have accepted enrollment (or written acceptance) from a foreign training institution
- Must demonstrate proficiency in the language of the host institution’s country
- Commitment to undertake a one academic year (single academic cycle) abroad
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total financial support: €18,000 for living expenses (travel, accommodation, maintenance, etc.)
- Additional funding: up to €12,000 for tuition fees at the selected institution
- Total potential support: €30,000
- Structured payment plan:
- 45% at the beginning of the program
- 25% in the following two quarterly periods
- 5% upon final report submission
- Academic and professional immersion in an international curatorial environment
- Exposure to leading institutions in contemporary art education
- Institutional recognition and career development within the curatorial and museum fields
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following documentation:
- Valid national ID (NIF or equivalent residency documentation)
- Curriculum Vitae including academic background, professional experience, and prior grants or residencies
- Academic transcripts and/or diplomas (if applicable)
- Motivation letter detailing:
- Reason for applying
- Relevance of proposed training to prior experience
- Justification for the chosen institution
- Detailed information about the selected training center (tuition fees, schedule, program details)
- Official acceptance letter from the host institution (must be received before May 11, 2026)
- Proof of residency (if a non-Spanish nationality applicant under eligibility conditions)
Additional note: applications must be submitted as a single compressed ZIP file (max 4MB) following the technical naming conventions specified by the foundation.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 27 April 2026
- Acceptance letter deadline: 11 May 2026
- Selection decision announced: before June 26, 2026
- Program start: must begin before the end of 2026
- Duration: one full academic year (2026/2027 cycle)
Location
Spain
Additional Details
- The scholarship is non-transferable, indivisible, and incompatible with other institutional grants for the same purpose
- Recipients must acknowledge the Fundación Botín in any publications or outputs produced during the fellowship period
- The foundation reserves the right to evaluate progress during the grant period
- Fellows must submit a final report and project documentation upon completion
- The foundation may retain publication rights or require acknowledgment in published work
- Failure to comply with regulations may result in termination of the grant
- Selection is made by an expert jury, and decisions are final and non-appealable