Lost Cities: Perception of and Life with Abandoned Cities in the Cultures of the World
Lost Cities: Perception of and Life with Abandoned Cities in the Cultures of the World supports research groups studying abandoned cities to understand their cultural meanings, uses and collective memory.
Funder: Gerda Henkel Foundation
Due Dates: May 19, 2027 (Application) | Rolling (Publishing aid)
Funding Amounts: Up to three scholarships at €1,920–€3,720 monthly, plus travel and materials, for up to 36 months
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research groups studying how cultures perceive, interpret and live with abandoned cities.
Key Information: Groups must include at least two active scholars funded through Foundation scholarships.
Description
Lost Cities is a special programme of the Gerda Henkel Foundation supporting interdisciplinary humanities and social science research on abandoned cities across cultures and historical periods. It places contemporary urban shrinkage and abandonment within a broader history of urban development. Projects should examine culturally specific and cross-cultural connections while attending to the circumstances of particular places and times.
The programme focuses on abandoned cities themselves and how they are interpreted, used and given meaning, rather than primarily on the causes of abandonment. Its priorities include cultures of interpretation, knowledge and perception, and the role of urban ruins in collective memory. Relevant themes include negotiating identities, preserving knowledge, criticising progress, and constructing mythical or sacred landscapes.
