Organizer Information
The Instituto Cáder de Arte Centroamericano (ICAC) is an initiative embedded within the Centro de Estudios of the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, developed in collaboration with the Fundación Museo Reina Sofía and the Museo Reina Sofia Foundation (USA). It was initiated by Salvadoran collector and cultural promoter Mario Cáder-Frech with the aim of strengthening research infrastructures dedicated to Central American art histories and their diasporas.
The broader institutional framework is anchored in the mission of the Museo Reina Sofía, one of Europe’s leading contemporary art museums, known for its critical engagement with global modern and contemporary art histories. The ICAC functions as a specialized research platform within the museum’s academic and curatorial ecosystem, focusing specifically on producing knowledge about underrepresented geographies and artistic genealogies.
The program is designed to foster a more equitable cultural ecology by supporting rigorous, long-term research into Central American artistic practices, ensuring that these histories are documented, analyzed, and disseminated with the same institutional depth afforded to more dominant global art narratives.
Title & Description
Beca de Investigación ICAC Research Fellowship 2027 – Centroamérica y sus diásporas
This fellowship is a 10-month research residency supporting one selected researcher (individual or collective) to develop an original, unpublished research project focused on the histories, practices, and contemporary dynamics of art in Central America and its diasporas.
The objective is to critically expand the field of Central American art studies by encouraging new methodological approaches, archival research, fieldwork, and theoretical reflection. The selected project is expected to engage deeply with questions of cultural production, institutional histories, artistic networks, and regional-global interconnections.
The fellowship includes research support, institutional mentoring, access to the museum’s archives and academic resources, and structured collaboration with the Centro de Estudios of the Museo Reina Sofía. It also includes two research stays in Madrid and a final public presentation of the project outcomes.
Categories
- Visual Arts Research
- Art History
- Cultural Studies
- Curatorial Research
- Latin American Studies
- Archival Research
- Interdisciplinary Arts Research
- Diaspora Studies
- Contemporary Art Theory
Eligibility
The call is open internationally, with no nationality or residency restrictions. However, priority will be given to applicants who are nationals or residents of:
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama
Additional eligibility conditions:
- Individual researchers or collectives (formal or informal) may apply
- Collective applications must designate one responsible representative
- Applicants must not simultaneously hold another grant or institutional support for the same project
- All documentation must be complete and submitted on time
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total grant: €12,600 net for the full 10-month research period
- Research duration: 10 months (10-month fellowship cycle)
- Structured payment schedule in four installments across 2027
- Additional travel grant up to €4,000 for research-related travel in Central America (subject to approval)
Additional benefits include:
- Two fully funded research stays at the Museo Reina Sofía (approx. 2 weeks each)
- Access to museum archives, collections, and research networks
- Institutional mentorship and academic supervision
- Collaboration with the ICAC research team
- Support in organizing a public presentation event in Madrid
- Integration into the museum’s research ecosystem
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae and professional biography (max. 2 pages per person)
- Research project summary (max. 500 words)
- Full research proposal (max. 5 pages), including:
- Research questions
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Timeline
- Proposed travel plan (if applicable)
Applications may be submitted in Spanish or English.
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted by email: ICAC@museoreinasofia.es
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 June 2026
- Evaluation Period: July 2026
- Interview Stage: (for top 3 candidates) scheduled individually
- Final Decision Announcement: Second half of July 2026
- Fellowship Duration: 10 months in 2027 (start aligned with acceptance agreement)
- Final Presentation Event: December 2027 (Madrid, Museo Reina Sofía)
Location
Madrid, Spain
Additional Details
- The selection process is based on a 10-point evaluation system:
- Research quality (up to 6 points)
- Academic/research trajectory
- Relevance to ICAC thematic priorities
- Interview performance (up to 4 points)
- Selected researcher must sign an acceptance agreement and adhere strictly to the research plan and reporting schedule
- Two mandatory stays at the Museo Reina Sofía are required
- A public event will be organized during the second residency period
- Final research report is required after completion
- The fellowship does not allow extensions under any circumstances
- All outputs must acknowledge ICAC support
The program emphasizes long-term intellectual engagement and institutional collaboration rather than production-based outputs, positioning the fellowship as a research-intensive opportunity within a major European museum framework.