Curatorial Research Fellowship 2026

We are delighted to announce the second visiting Curatorial Research Fellowship for 2026, in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Alkazi Foundation for the Arts.

The Fellowship will be based in the V&A’s Photography Section at South Kensington in London lasting three-six months. We invite proposals from mid-career cultural producers between the ages of 25 and 45 years including artists, scholars, writers/editors and curators, working independently or affiliated to art institutions. The Fellowship will enable the recipient to conduct research at the Museum, as well as assist in the Photography Section’s ongoing projects.

We look forward to receiving proposals for research relating to the V&A’s photography collections as well as details about existing curatorial interests of the applicants.

Submission deadline: 10 November 2025

Awardee announcement: February 2026

For any queries, please write to: alkazifoundation01@gmail.com

To learn more about the Fellowship criteria and application details please see below:

• Criteria

  The proposal should clearly outline the aims of the project and the intended outcomes — for instance, an exhibition or a publication. We encourage a research-led approach relating to a broad range of photographic cultures, exhibition histories and art histories. A link to the V&A collections should be clearly articulated (500 words).

  The proposal must present realistic objectives within a timeframe of up to six months, and no less than three months. The project proposal should be submitted in English.

  The project should express the ways in which the Fellow will enhance their practice and also express the pedagogical or practice-oriented inclinations of the project as a whole. Diversity and dynamism are keywords.

  The applicants should be able to demonstrate existing knowledge (photography history, contemporary lens-based practice, etc.) and the ability to carry out the project successfully.

  This Fellowship is for Indian citizens who are domiciled in India.

How to Apply

• How to Apply

  Applications/Proposals (500 words) must be submitted in a PDF format to alkazifoundation01@gmail.com, accompanied by an up-to-date CV.

  In case your query is not answered in the FAQs section below, please contact us at alkazifoundation01@gmail.com and mention ‘Curatorial Research Fellowship 2026’ in the subject line.

  Submissions after the deadline will not be considered. Successful candidates will be called to an online interview. The awardee will be announced by February 2026.

  The Fellowship will commence in April 2026.

• FAQs

  Can I apply with multiple projects or as a Collective?

  No.

  • Is there a timeline to finish the research?

  Although there is no specific timeline and the research can continue even after the duration of the Fellowship, the applicant is expected to submit an article about the research, which may be published on the AFA/CWIT/V&A website within three months of returning to India.

  • What will the Fellowship amount cover?

  The Fellowship can be used towards travel (economy class), along with accommodation/meals/local travel. These will be the responsibility of the applicant upon receiving the Fellowship.

  • I am applying for a project involving ongoing research. Am I still eligible to apply?

  Yes. Ongoing research is a possibility, but the current research application should demonstrate a qualitative enhancement.

  • In addition to providing funding, what else does the Fellowship cover?

  –  All organisations will promote the published work through their own marketing and distribution network.

  –  If required, the Alkazi Foundation can connect Fellowship recipients to its network of editors, etc., to support the process of producing the article.

  • Which projects are not eligible for the Fellowship?

  Projects in the following categories are not eligible for the Curatorial Fellowship:

  –  Proposals for exhibition catalogues or monographs associated with another institution or commercial space.

  –  Projects where funding is intended to cover infrastructure and equipment costs as well as the costs of operating cultural facilities, archives, and collections.

  • Who owns the rights to the aesthetic and intellectual content of any published article in the end?

  Copyright to all aesthetic and intellectual content will remain with the applicant. The sources need to be credited. The organisers reserve the right to publish the article first.

  • Will I have the right to republish the project later?

  Primary publishing rights should be shared with AFA/CWIT/V&A. Any second or new editions and rights to republish should be discussed. Rights will not be unreasonably withheld.

  • When will the results of the Fellowship be announced?

  The awardee will be announced in February 2026 on social media platforms.