Anna Polke Foundation Scholarship

The Anna Polke Foundation supports art and cultural studies research with its annually announced scholarship, focusing on Sigmar Polke or art historical questions related to modern and contemporary art. Interested scholars from across Germany may apply as individuals and, if successful, receive a one-time grant of 5,000 euros. The funding aims to open new perspectives on Polke’s work, his techniques, materials, and artistic concepts, as well as to deepen art historical topics ranging from material iconography and exhibition practice to media and cultural studies approaches. The call for applications is published annually at the beginning of the year on the Foundation’s website; submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The scholarship is primarily intended for art historians, art and cultural studies scholars, and interdisciplinary researchers planning innovative projects on Sigmar Polke or related subjects. A prerequisite is a scholarly engagement with Polke’s oeuvre—whether in the form of a dissertation, publication, or an independent research project. The scholarship supports archival and literature research, field studies, publication projects, or the development of exhibition and mediation concepts. Through the financial grant, recipients receive flexible resources to acquire specialist literature, attend conferences, or undertake research stays. In this way, the Anna Polke Foundation makes an important contribution to the advancement of Polke research and the strengthening of the art and cultural history community in Germany.