Work Package 4, Lot 2: Visual Arts Collaborative Research Grant

Deadline: 31-Aug-2026

Sub-Saharan Africa, Connect & Create Grants 2026: Overview The Goethe-Institut is offering grants through the Sub-Saharan Africa, Connect & Create Component of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme to support collaborative visual arts research and critical discourse projects involving professionals from Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union. The initiative promotes equitable Africa-Europe partnerships, peer learning, co-creation, and the development of new knowledge about African visual arts. Each selected team can receive up to €4,000 for a 10-month project running from 1 October 2026 to 31 July 2027. Funded projects must generate meaningful research outputs that can be published, archived, or otherwise disseminated, such as peer-reviewed articles, publications, archived resources, curatorial toolkits, or policy briefs. What Is the Sub-Saharan Africa, Connect & Create Component? The Sub-Saharan Africa, Connect & Create Component is part of the broader Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme and is designed to strengthen collaboration between African and European cultural practitioners. The initiative places particular emphasis on the visual arts sector and supports projects that create opportunities for: - Collaborative research. - Critical discourse. - Peer learning. - Knowledge exchange. - Co-creation. - Documentation of visual arts practices. - Analysis of visual arts histories and contexts. - Publication and dissemination of new knowledge. A central principle of the programme is recognising African practitioners as knowledge creators and intellectual leaders rather than treating African visual arts solely as a subject of external research. Why Does the Programme Matter? Visual arts knowledge is often produced, documented, and circulated through institutions and networks that do not adequately represent the perspectives of African practitioners. This programme seeks to address that imbalance by supporting collaborative research led through meaningful Africa-Europe cooperation.

The initiative can help:

- Document African visual arts knowledge. - Strengthen critical discourse within the visual arts sector. - Support collaboration between African and European professionals. - Promote peer-to-peer learning. - Create new research and analytical resources. - Improve the circulation of African visual arts knowledge. - Encourage more equitable cultural partnerships. - Connect research with professional practice and policy discussions. What Types of Projects Are Supported? The grant supports collaborative research projects that generate and disseminate new knowledge about visual arts.

Projects may examine:

- Visual arts practices. - Artistic contexts. - Art histories. - Visual arts ecosystems. - Critical theory. - Contemporary art discourse. - Curatorial practices. - Cultural policy. - Research methodologies. - Relationships between artists, institutions, communities, and cultural ecosystems. The emphasis is on research that contributes something new rather than simply documenting existing information. What Activities Can the Grant Support? Eligible activities can include different stages of a collaborative research and dissemination process. Co-Research Teams can undertake joint research processes in which African and European participants contribute knowledge, perspectives, methodologies, and professional expertise. Art Critique Projects may involve critical analysis of visual arts practices grounded in appropriate theoretical and methodological approaches. Collaborative Analysis Teams can work together to analyse visual arts practices, histories, ecosystems, or contemporary developments. Research Publication The programme supports the production and dissemination of research outputs, including: - Peer-reviewed articles. - Research publications. - Archived resources. - Curatorial toolkits. - Policy briefs. Research Dissemination Projects may also include activities that help research findings reach professional, academic, artistic, institutional, or policy audiences. Who Is Eligible? The grant is intended for teams of researchers and visual arts professionals working collaboratively across Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union.

Eligible teams must:

- Include at least two members. - Have no maximum team size. - Consist of researchers or professionals involved in visual arts scholarship or critical discourse. - Be based in Sub-Saharan Africa or the European Union. - Have a team lead who is either: - Based in Sub-Saharan Africa, or - Demonstrates substantial and ongoing professional engagement with the Sub-Saharan African visual arts sector. The programme therefore prioritises teams with a genuine connection to the Sub-Saharan African visual arts ecosystem. Who Can Be Part of a Team? Potential team members may include professionals involved in: - Visual arts research. - Art criticism. - Art history. - Curatorial practice. - Visual arts scholarship. - Cultural research. - Critical discourse. - Arts documentation. - Cultural policy research. - Other relevant visual arts fields. The key requirement is that participants have relevant professional or research expertise connected to visual arts scholarship or discourse. What Is the Team Lead Requirement? The team lead has an important eligibility requirement.

The lead must either:

- Be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, or - Demonstrate substantial, ongoing professional engagement with the Sub-Saharan African visual arts sector. This requirement reinforces the programme’s objective of ensuring that Sub-Saharan African perspectives and expertise remain central to the research process. What Funding Is Available? Each selected team can receive a grant of up to: €4,000 per project

The grant supports a project lasting:

10 months

The project period is:

1 October 2026 to 31 July 2027 The stated approximate US-dollar equivalent is $4,320, although the actual exchange value can vary. What Costs Are Eligible