About Travel Grant Program

About

Launched in 2005, CIMAM’s Travel Grant Program is designed to foster cooperation and cultural exchange between contemporary art curators and museums directors in emerging and developing economies and their counterparts in other regions of the world.

The support we receive from Travel Grant Funders allows CIMAM to develop a Travel Grant Program that has become essential in the participation of a broader range of professionals in the international debate concerning contemporary art.

Over the years CIMAM’s travel grantees have constituted a remarkable group of professionals, many of whom have gone on to become important participants in the field of museums of modern contemporary art.

Since 2005 over 300 young curators and museum directors from emerging economies have been awarded support to attend CIMAM’s Annual Conference.

Benefits for awarded professionals

• CIMAM’s Travel Grant Program supports the curatorial and research development of individuals through their attendance at the Annual Conference where the most current concerns regarding contemporary art practices are being discussed.
• Awarded candidates benefit from unique networking opportunities through interaction and exchange with international museum directors and peers.
• Successful applicants become members of CIMAM for the triennial they have been awarded allowing continuity and belonging to the most relevant international contemporary art museum community.
• Beneficiaries’ profiles and reports are announced through CIMAM’s newsletter and website, and are published in the conference booklet and conference report where they receive wide international visibility.

Eligibility

Grants are addressed to modern and contemporary art museum directors and curators in need of financial help to attend CIMAM’s Annual Conference. Researchers and independent curators whose field of research and specialization is contemporary art theory, collections, and museums, and most of their field of professional activity is related to the functions of an art museum, are also eligible.

Applicants should not be involved in any kind of commercial or for-profit activity.

While professionals of all career levels are encouraged to apply, priority is given to junior directors and curators (with less than 10 years of experience). Candidates who have previously received CIMAM grants from the same grant contributor may only be considered for a new grant after 3 years since the previous grant was awarded – unless the grant received was online. In that case, they are eligible to apply again.

Purpose of the grant

The aim of the grant is to allow successful candidates to attend the CIMAM Annual Conference and access not only the speaker presentations but also all the activities scheduled during the 3-day conference such as the networking and workshops sessions, and the visits to the main contemporary art exhibitions.

The support will cover:

• Conference registration includes access to all conference sessions, lunches, dinners, refreshment breaks, access to organized visits, and coach service to and from planned visits during the 3 conference days.
• travel expenses (round trip economy flight, train, or ferry tickets)
• Four-night accommodation in one of the hotels recommended by CIMAM
• Becoming a member of CIMAM for the period awarded.

Funds do not cover transportation to/from the airport, visa expenses, travel insurance, and registration for the optional conference tours.

The distribution of funds is set on a case-by-case basis for each recipient. CIMAM books and pre-pays all expenses directly (travel and accommodation) avoiding reimbursements to any grantee.

Application Process

Candidates are invited to complete an online application form and include a CV and short résumé, a motivation statement, and two letters of recommendation by professionals or scholars who are familiar with the candidate's qualifications.

Current Members of CIMAM (2023-25) are exempt from providing 2 letters of recommendation, but the names and contact details of 2 referees familiar with the professional career of the applicant.

Should you have any questions about your grant application or membership status, please email us before submitting your application to: travelgrants@cimam.org

CIMAM is grateful to the funders that have supported and made possible the Travel Grant Program over the years:

• The Getty Foundation
• Fundación Cisneros/Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros
• MALBA–Fundación Costantini
• Adam Mickiewicz Institute
• Alserkal Programming
• V-A-C Foundation
• Samdani Art Foundation
• Open Society Foundations
• Byucksan Foundation
• Gwangju Biennale Foundation
• Fundación Botín
• Fubon Art Foundation
• British Council
• Qatar Museums
• Garage Museum of Contemporary Art
• Office for Contemporary Art Norway
• Beijing Public Art and Culture Foundation
• Acción Cultural Española AC/E
• Mercedes Vilardell,
• SAHA – Supporting Contemporary Art from Turkey
• Saastamoinen Foundation, Helsinki
• Samdani Art Foundation
• Eloisa Haudenschild
• Aimée Labarrere de Servitje