Lost Cities: Perception of and Life with Abandoned Cities in the Cultures of the World
Supports interdisciplinary research groups exploring how abandoned cities are perceived, interpreted, and remembered across cultures and historical periods.
Funder: Gerda Henkel Stiftung
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (annual full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to 3 scholarships per group; monthly rates: €1,920 (PhD), €2,760 (postdoc), €3,720 (senior); plus travel/materials; max duration: 36 months.
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research groups exploring how abandoned cities are perceived, interpreted, and remembered across cultures and historical periods.
Key Information: Only research groups (min. 2 scholars) led by postdoctoral researchers are eligible; individual applications not accepted.
Description
This program from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung funds interdisciplinary research groups investigating the cultural, social, and symbolic meanings of abandoned cities ("Lost Cities") in global and historical perspective. Rather than focusing on the causes of urban abandonment, the initiative supports projects that explore how societies interpret, remember, and integrate lost cities into cultural memory, identity, critique, and myth. The aim is to situate current urban transformation within a deeper historical and cultural context by examining the enduring significance of lost cities across eras and regions.
