Paul Klee Forschungsstipendium 2026/2027, Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern

Paul Klee Forschungsstipendium 2026/2027,

Bern, Zentrum Paul Klee
Application deadline: Apr 12, 2026

The Zentrum Paul Klee is announcing the “Paul Klee Research Fellowship” for the first time. The aim is to support innovative Klee studies and to enable researchers to spend one month working intensively with the collection and archives of the ZPK. The research staff at the ZPK will advise and mentor fellows during their archival research.

The Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern is the international center of excellence for Paul Klee’s complete artistic oeuvre, housed in an extraordinary architectural setting. At the same time, it serves as a venue for interdisciplinary art and cultural engagement, as well as a unique space for encounters, events, and conferences.

Funding:
– CHF 4,000 as a one-time grant
– Duration: 1 month (September-December 2026; January-June 2027)
– Bern Workspace at the Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern

Travel expenses, accommodation, and any visa-related costs are not included in the grant and must be covered by the fellows themselves.

Objective:
The fellowship is aimed at advanced Master’s students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers whose project will engage with the archives and collections of the Zentrum Paul Klee and pursue an innovative research question. In addition to art history, applications from other disciplines (literary studies, musicology, theatre studies, history, philosophy, art education, digital and environmental humanities), as well as from the arts, are explicitly encouraged.

Applicants are expected to submit a short project description (max. 3 pages) including a work and time plan. During the residency, fellows will have the opportunity to present their project in a public workshop at the Zentrum Paul Klee. Upon completion, a brief research report is requested. The research may subsequently be published in Zwitscher-Maschine. Journal for Klee Studies.

Support:
– Access to the archival holdings and collections of the Zentrum Paul Klee
– On-site workspace and use of the specialized library
– Presentation of the research project in a public workshop
– Invitation to academic events during the residency

Application:
Please send the following documents (in German, English, or French) in one PDF file (max. 10 MB) by April 12, 2026 to: Dr. Toni Hildebrandt (toni.hildebrandt@zpk.org):

– Letter of motivation (max. 1 page)
– Project description (max. 3 pages)
– Curriculum Vitae
– Indication of the preferred period (September–December 2026 or January–June 2027)
– Contact details of two references (no letters of recommendation required)

The selection will be made by a committee of the Zentrum Paul Klee.
Applicants will be informed of the decision no later than April 30, 2026.