Call for Proposals ECF Fellowship Please read the full Call for Proposals and Frequently Asked Questions for the ERASMUS Fellowship.
ECF Fellowship
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1. Call for Proposals
Erasmus and the Making of European Belonging
Creative Research Fellowship into the Historical Archives of the European Cultural Foundation
The European Cultural Foundation (ECF) was established in 1954 by visionaries such as Denis de Rougemont, Robert Schuman, Hendrik Brugmans and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. It was founded on the belief that Europe cannot be built by treaties alone, but requires a deeper understanding that our destinies are connected
For more than seventy years, the Foundation has championed the role of culture and education in creating a shared European sense of belonging and solidarity. This commitment has given rise to countless programmes, studies, grant schemes, campaigns and international collaborations. One lesser-known part of this history is the Foundation's contribution to the development and implementation of the ERASMUS programme.
In 2027, ERASMUS celebrates its 40th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the ECF offers a Creative Research Fellowship with a grant of €10,000, inviting a professional creative practitioner to explore its historical archives, held at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) in Florence, and rediscover and publicly share the importance of the ERASMUS chapter in the making of Europe.
ECF and Erasmus
Education has been at the heart of the European Cultural Foundation’s work since its earliest days. Over time, it built significant expertise in the field, culminating in the establishment of the European Institute of Education in 1975. This made it an important partner when the European Commission began shaping its education policy framework in the mid-1970s.
The Foundation’s involvement entered a decisive new phase in 1978, when it was entrusted with administering the Joint Study Programmes, a precursor to ERASMUS. In the years that followed, the ECF became closely involved in the development of ERASMUS, contributing to the shaping of the programme and, following its launch in 1987, managing its implementation on behalf of the European Commission until 1994.
For the ECF, ERASMUS was part of a wider ambition: to strengthen a European sense of belonging by fostering cross-border cultural and educational exchanges that could make Europe real and meaningful in people's lives.
The ECF archives preserve this history. They offer a starting point for looking beyond ERASMUS as a programme and towards its wider effect: what can make Europe feel shared, and what might inspire new ways of creating that sense of belonging today?
Objectives and outcomes
The Fellowship has three interconnected objectives:
To rediscover and bring to light the European Cultural Foundation's role in the development and implementation of ERASMUS, using the ECF archives as a primary source.
To explore what ERASMUS has meant for European belonging, and what its history can tell us about the relationship between education, exchange and people's experience of Europe.
To look towards the future: to ask what a next ERASMUS could be — and what could help bring Europe closer to people today.
The fellowship is not intended simply to illustrate or retell the history of the ERASMUS programme. Rather, we are interested in proposals that reflect on what its history reveals about the Europe we have built over the past forty years — and the Europe that might come next.
The fellowship is research-led but not limited to a particular medium or discipline. We are looking for projects that translate archival research into a compelling public-facing outcome that can be experienced, presented or encountered in a cultural setting.
The resulting work will be presented at the House of European History in Brussels in September 2027, subject to final confirmation. The work must therefore be completed by 31 July 2027 at the latest, allowing sufficient time for installation, technical preparation and coordination with the House of European History ahead of the public presentation.
Research stay
The fellow will undertake a research stay at the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence, where the ECF collection is held. The research stay is expected to take place in early 2027, allowing sufficient time for the resulting work to be developed, produced and completed by 31 July 2027.
The ECF Creative Research Fellowship provides a grant of €10,000, intended to support:
travel to and from Florence
accommodation and living expenses during the research stay
artistic production and development
During the stay, the fellow will be primarily supported by HAEU staff, who will serve as the main point of contact for access to archival materials and on-site research.
The ECF remains available to answer questions about its history, programmes and past activities.
Who can apply?
The Fellowship is open to artists, filmmakers, writers, journalists, podcasters, curators and other professional creative practitioners who are prepared to engage with the ECF archives to investigate and interpret the history and legacy of ERASMUS.
Applicants must demonstrate a professional track record and substantial experience in developing and presenting research-based work.
Applicants must reside in a Council of Europe member state.
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed by the European Cultural Foundation, the Historical Archives of the European Union and representatives of the House of European History, based on the following criteria:
Engagement with the ECF archives
The proposal demonstrates a well-considered and meaningful engagement with the ECF archives and clearly justifies the need for a research period at the HAEU.
Contemporary relevance
The proposal shows how the archival material will be used not simply to document the ERASMUS programme, but to explore its broader meaning for European belonging, and how this history can resonate with questions about the Europe we are building today and in the future.
Quality and originality
The proposal demonstrates a distinctive approach and has the potential to result in an original and compelling public-facing outcome.
Public engagement
The proposal demonstrates the potential of the resulting work to engage a broad audience and presents a clear approach to making the work accessible, compelling and relevant to a public museum setting. The applicant should also demonstrate the professional networks, partnerships or platforms available to support the visibility and dissemination of the work.
Feasibility
The applicant demonstrates the experience and capacity required to undertake the proposed research and develop the project within the available timeframe and €10,000 budget, including completion of the work by 31 July 2027 for presentation at the House of European History in September 2027.
Application Procedure and Deadline
Application deadline: 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET
Candidates must apply through the online application form.
Applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted in English.
Selection of the Fellow: second half of December 2026.
Research stay: early 2027.
Completion of the work: 31 July 2027.
Public presentation: September 2027, House of European History, Brussels, subject to confirmation.
Research support and contacts
During their stay, the fellow will be primarily supported by the staff of the Historical Archives of the European Union.
The ECF remains available to answer questions about its history, programmes and past activities.
Questions about the fellowship and the ECF's history and archives may be addressed to: Lore Gablier, Programme Manager at the European Cultural Foundation, lgablier@culturalfoundation.eu
2. Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Who can apply?
The Fellowship is open to professional creative practitioners who are prepared to engage with the ECF archives to investigate and interpret the history and legacy of ERASMUS.
Applicants must demonstrate a professional track record and substantial experience in developing and presenting research-based work suitable for a museum context.
Applicants must reside in a Council of Europe member state.
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed by the European Cultural Foundation, the Historical Archives of the European Union and representatives of the House of European History, based on the following criteria:
Engagement with the ECF archives
The proposal demonstrates a well-considered and meaningful engagement with the ECF archives and clearly justifies the need for a research period at the HAEU.
Contemporary relevance
The proposal shows how the archival material will be used not simply to document the ERASMUS programme, but to explore its broader meaning for European belonging, and how this history can resonate with questions about the Europe we are building today and in the future.
Quality and originality
The proposal demonstrates a distinctive approach and has the potential to result in an original and compelling public-facing outcome.
Public engagement
The proposal demonstrates the potential of the resulting work to engage a broad audience and presents a clear approach to making the work accessible, compelling and relevant to a public museum setting. The applicant should also demonstrate the professional networks, partnerships or platforms available to support the visibility and dissemination of the work.
Feasibility
The applicant demonstrates the experience and capacity required to undertake the proposed research and develop the project within the available timeframe and €10,000 budget, including completion of the work by 31 July 2027 for presentation at the House of European History in September 2027.
3. Application Procedure and Deadline
Application deadline: 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET
Candidates must apply through the online application form .
Applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted in English.
Selection of the Fellow: second half of December 2026.
Research stay: early 2027.
Completion of the work: 31 July 2027.
Public presentation: September 2027, House of European History, Brussels, subject to confirmation.
4. Technical Instructions and Data Protection
Technical Instructions
In order to access and complete the application form, you will need to first register an account.
Data Protection
All stages of the application and grant making processes are adherent to the regular GDPR standards.
We use your personal data in this form solely for the purposes of processing your application and communicating with you about it.
We do not share your data with third parties.
5. Important Background Information & Useful Resources
The resources below provide background information on the European Cultural Foundation and its archival collection at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU). Applicants are encouraged to consult these materials when developing their research proposal and identifying relevant archival sources.
ECF Archival Collection – HAEU: Descriptions of the inventoried archival material and the archival tree structure.
Frequently Asked Questions (TBC)
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