Applications are now open for the 2026 MuseumsLab Fellowship Programme. The MuseumsLab is an exceptional collaborative initiative between Africa and Europe that offers a shared learning experience for emerging professionals working in museums, heritage institutions, art spaces, and other cultural organizations. Beginning online in May and continuing with in-person sessions in Berlin and Kigali, the 2026 edition will gather 50 Fellows alongside a diverse group of academics, artists, practitioners, and activists who are deeply connected to the museum field. Together, they will reflect on the past, present, and future of museums, exchange innovative ideas, and learn from one another while engaging with cultural spaces across both continents.

Centred around the theme “Building Futures from Memory: Museums and Memorial Sites as Agents,” the programme is organized jointly by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN), and the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy. The initiative also benefits from the involvement of an international Academic Committee and TheMuseumsLab Alumni Network, who play key roles in shaping the programme’s vision, content, and curation.

The MuseumsLab connects professionals from across Africa and Europe who work in museums, heritage spaces, academic institutions, and the cultural sector. It serves as a dynamic platform for the next generation of cultural leaders, encouraging critical reflection, collaboration, and innovation. Through dialogue and co-creation, participants rethink the role of museums in society and develop new approaches that cross disciplinary, geographical, and institutional boundaries.

The fellowship is open to African and European museum professionals who possess a minimum of two years of relevant experience in the museum, heritage, or art sectors and whose work aligns with the programme’s central theme. Applicants should have practical expertise in areas such as archaeology, architecture, cultural history, natural sciences, technology, or art, and demonstrate a clear professional link to the focus of the upcoming programme. They are expected to show genuine motivation, active engagement, and a firm commitment to participating fully in all programme components.

Candidates are also required to exhibit strong interpersonal and leadership abilities, including creativity, adaptability, resilience, collaborative communication, self-reflection, and a passion for promoting ethical and transformative practices within museums. Since the programme operates in English, participants must have sufficient written and spoken proficiency in the language to engage effectively in discussions and activities.

During the on-site phases, the DAAD will cover a range of programme-related expenses. These include international and local travel (economy class flights and second-class train tickets), public transportation during the modules, airport transfers, visa fees, limited health insurance reimbursement (up to 40 euros), accommodation, entrance fees to programme sites, and a modest daily allowance to support meals not provided by the organisers. All travel and lodging arrangements connected to the programme will be managed directly by the DAAD.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity