Lost Cities: Perception of and Life with Abandoned Cities in the Cultures of the World
Supports interdisciplinary research groups studying how abandoned cities are interpreted and their cultural significance across history and societies.
Funder: Gerda Henkel Stiftung
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (annual application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to three scholarships per research group; PhD: €1,920/month, Postdoc: €2,760/month, Habilitation/Professorship: €3,720/month; up to 36 months; plus travel, materials, and family supplements
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research groups investigating the cultural, historical, and interpretive significance of abandoned cities (“Lost Cities”) in global contexts.
Key Information: Only interdisciplinary research groups (min. 2 scholars) in the humanities/social sciences are eligible; individual applications not accepted.
Description
This program from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung funds interdisciplinary research groups exploring the perception, interpretation, and cultural significance of abandoned cities (“Lost Cities”) throughout history and across cultures. The initiative emphasizes how such sites are read, codified, and instrumentalized in cultural memory, identity formation, criticism of progress, and myth-making, rather than focusing on the causes of urban abandonment. Projects should address both culturally specific and cross-cultural aspects, with an emphasis on the tangible cultures of interpretation and their roles in political, cultural, and social discourse.
