International Open Call for Travel Grant Applications

3H8A7406 — CIMAM 2024 Annual Conference in Los Angeles

CIMAM opens the Call for the 2025 Travel Grant Applications, this year celebrating 20 years of supporting global modern and contemporary museum professionals.

Travel Grant Beneficiaries will attend the 57th CIMAM Annual Conference in Turin, Italy, from November 28-30, 2025, titled Enduring Game: Expanding New Models of Museum Making. With the guiding mantra Of Necessity Virtue.

→ The deadline to apply is 16 June 2025 at 8am (CEST).

The CIMAM Travel Grant Program aims to support the curatorial and research development, representation, and international visibility of the directors, curators, and professionals of modern and contemporary art museums residing in countries with emerging and developing economies – Groups C, D, E of this list – through their attendance at the 2025 CIMAM Annual Conference where the most current concerns on contemporary art practices will be discussed.

Read carefully the list of eligible countries and criteria before submitting your application.

CIMAM is deeply grateful to the individuals and organizations supporting the participation of modern and contemporary art professionals in CIMAM's Annual Conference:

1) Eligibility Criteria: Who can apply?

CIMAM's eligibility criteria for Travel Grants is aligned with ICOM's membership structure by using the same criteria by country, according to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of every country.

Candidates must reside in countries with emerging and developing economies (Groups C, D, E of this list) unless differently specified by the Travel Grant Funder.

Getty Foundation, supports professionals residing in emerging and developing economies in groups C, D, and E. Grant funds from the Getty Foundation may not be used to support registration fees and other expenses not ordinarily incident to travel for Getty-sponsored participants who are Iranian, North Korean, or Syrian nationals or to those from the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. At this time, Getty funds may be used to support Cuban nationals under select circumstances. Some restrictions apply.
Saastamoinen Foundation, supports professionals, residing in emerging and developing economies in groups C, D, and E, with a priority on the African region.
Teresa A. L. Bulgheroni, supports professionals residing in Latin American countries in groups C, D, and E.
Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (CPPC), supports professionals residing in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and their diasporas in groups C, D, and E.
Mercedes Vilardell, supports professionals residing on the African continent.
Aimée Labarrere de Servitje, supports professionals residing in Mexico.
Eloisa Haudenschild, supports professionals residing in emerging and developing economies in groups C, D, and E.
Fernando Zobel de Ayala, supports professionals residing in the Philippines.
Chitra Talwar, supports professionals residing in India.

CIMAM Travel 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, not dealing (i.e. buying and selling for profit) in the field of visual arts and cultural property, and neither be structurally engaged by a commercial art gallery or a company that produces or not sells products to museums.

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 full years since the previous grant was awarded.

Please note that all applications must be submitted in English only.

Applications received after the deadline won't be considered.

Applications must be submitted through the application form provided; another format won't be considered.

2) Application Process:

Candidates are invited to complete an online application form and include:

Short résumé
Motivation statement
List of exhibitions and publications produced in the last 5 years
*Two letters or email messages of recommendation in support of the candidates. They should be issued by museum professionals or scholars who are familiar with their work and/or qualifications. Applications and recommendation letters should be written in English.

*No need to submit letters for current CIMAM Members (2023-25), they can provide the names and contact details of 2 referees.

Candidates should check before submitting a grant application if they are required to obtain a visa to enter the country where the CIMAM Annual Conference takes place and to ensure they are eligible to obtain the entry visa, and that it is a feasible process.

3) Selection Process:

Travel Grant applications are evaluated and conferred by CIMAM’s Travel Grant Committee, composed of five members of the CIMAM Board.

Candidates should clearly state their current country of residence. The CIMAM Travel Grant Committee will take into consideration the current country of residence, not the nationality, as the eligibility criteria.

Travel Grants will be conferred based on the assessment of the candidate’s genuine financial need, the potential benefit to their development and/or research, and the relevance of their field experience related to the objectives of CIMAM.

The CIMAM Travel Grant Selection Committee is committed to promoting fairness and non-discrimination in its selection process and strives to provide equal opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, gender, religion, or other factors.

4) Benefits for Awarded Professionals:

Awarded candidates benefit from unique networking opportunities through interaction and exchange with international museum directors and peers.

Travel Grantees become Members of CIMAM for the term they have been awarded (2026-28).

The CIMAM Travel Grant Program provides a network of support for professional development by promoting equality and participation of contemporary art professionals from different countries and regions of the world in the Annual Conference.

→ This year, Travel Grant Beneficiaries will be expected to participate in the 3-day conference actively. During the first day, awarded professionals will be invited to take notes during the breakout sessions led by moderators and present them to the audience at the end of each session. Notes will be shared and presented on a whiteboard accessible to all attendees.

5) What does the CIMAM Travel Grant cover?

The grant aims to allow selected candidates to attend the 2025 CIMAM Annual Conference and access not only speakers' presentations but also all the activities scheduled during the 3-day conference, such as workshops, panels, and visits to the main contemporary art exhibitions in the city where the Annual Conference takes place.

The grant will cover the following:

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 (train, bus, or round-trip economy flight ticket).
Four-night accommodation in one of the hotels recommended by CIMAM.*
CIMAM membership for the period awarded (2026-28).

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 to facilitate accountability and tracking of the funds that CIMAM is accountable for.

The grant will not cover:

Registration and expenses related to the pre and/or post-conference tour.
Transportation to/from the airport, visa expenses, travel insurance.
Any additional expenses such as mini-bar items, room service, telephone, etc.

Selected candidates should arrange their insurance and their entry visa to the country where the CIMAM Annual Conference takes place. While CIMAM will support the candidates’ visa application process, neither the Travel Grant Funder nor CIMAM will be held liable for the visa application process and outcomes, or any personal accidents, losses, or damage to the private property of any candidates.

*This year, CIMAM is launching a pilot project in collaboration with the Getty Foundation through its generous support. Grantees awarded by the Getty Foundation will be invited to arrive in Turin, Italy, one day earlier to allow a day for guided visits, time zone acclimation, and rounding out the conference experience. They will receive an extra accommodation night, dinner on Wednesday, November 26, and per diems for Thursday, November 27. This pilot project aims to offer more time available, both for exchanges with other participants and for experiencing the museums, galleries, and other cultural highlights of the city.

6) Awarded professionals become CIMAM Ambassadors:

When awarded a CIMAM Travel Grant, professionals become CIMAM Ambassadors and are invited to actively participate in CIMAM programs throughout the year. They will be expected to assist other professionals in their region wishing to join the CIMAM network by being their referees, encourage other professionals to apply for the Travel Grant Program and attend the Annual Conference, participate in the Rapid Responses Webinars and CIMAM Connects sessions as well as taking part in OMPA’s Award by identifying and nominating outstanding museum practices in their region. These events are unique opportunities to strengthen the international community of professionals promoting the best contemporary art museum practice.

7) Timeline:

CIMAM will follow the proposed calendar below, although some dates may be slightly adjusted:

Open Call for Applications: 26 May – 16 June 2025
Evaluation & Selection Process: 18 June – 30 June 2025
Notification & Travel Arrangements: 7 – 31 July 2025
Public Announcement of Beneficiaries: 15 September 2025
Submission of Final Report: 31 January 31 2026

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