Call for applications: Research grant at the Archives de la critique d'art (1st semester 2027)

The International Association of Art Critics (AICA International) and the Archives of the Art Critic (ACA) are taking applications for a research grant on the history of AICA and its various national sections.

This grant is open to all members of AICA International who wish to travel to Rennes to carry out research at ACA. It is intended to encourage the exploitation and development of AICA International’s archives, which include documents relating to congresses and general assemblies held in France and abroad from 1948 to 2009 (programmes, memorandums, correspondence, participants’ papers, and minutes), the work of the committees, and the organisation and management of the association (accounting and administrative documents, budgets, and Presidents’ and Secretaries General’s files).

The personal records of the association's members may also be consulted.

The grant amounts to €2,500. It is intended to finance a research residency lasting 2 to 4 weeks between April and June 2027, and accommodation in Rennes (which should cost up to €500 for a month). The successful candidate will be able to stay at the Cité internationale Paul Ricoeur in Rennes.

The successful candidate undertakes to produce a piece of written work at the end of the residency and, at the invitation of the partners, to present the results of their research in the form of a seminar, conference, debate, or interview.

Preference will be given to applications from members who do not reside in mainland France.

Application file

The application file (in French or English) must include:

  1. An application letter addressed to the President of AICA International and the Director of the ACA detailing the research project;

  2. A curriculum vitae;

  3. A provisional timetable and budget for the residency.

Applications must be sent in PDF format by the 8th of November 2026 at midnight, Paris time, with the following subject line: ‘Application for the AICA International - ACA Research Grant’; only applications sent to the email addresses below will be considered:

Selection committee

Applications will be examined by a jury comprising AICA International’s President, ACA’s Director and another qualified individual.

The results will be announced on the 4th of December 2026.

For any questions about the ACA collections, please contact: laurence.lepoupon@univ-rennes2.fr

This open call is available as a PDF in English, Spanish and French.