Lost Cities
Supports research groups studying how abandoned cities are perceived, interpreted, and culturally integrated across societies and eras, emphasizing their ongoing significance and meaning.
Funder: Gerda Henkel Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline; annual call for Lost Cities programme)
Funding Amounts: Up to 3 scholarships per group; PhD: €1,920/mo, Postdoc: €2,760/mo, Senior: €3,720/mo; plus travel/materials; max 36 months
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research on the perception and cultural significance of abandoned cities across societies and historical periods.
Key Information: Only research groups (min. 2 scholars) in the humanities/social sciences are eligible; individual applications are not permitted.
Description
This programme, established by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, funds interdisciplinary research on the perception, interpretation, and cultural integration of abandoned or "lost" cities across different cultures and historical periods. Rather than focusing on the causes of abandonment, the initiative emphasizes the meanings, narratives, and cultural practices that arise around these sites, including their roles in identity formation, knowledge preservation, critique of progress, and the development of mythic or sacred landscapes. Projects should address both culturally specific and cross-cultural aspects of how societies engage with urban ruins and their legacies.
