Eleven grants for NWA research into collections with a colonial context

25 July 2024

NWO has awarded funding to 11 research within the call ‘Research into collections with a colonial context’. Dutch museum collections may contain looted objects with a colonial context. This programme aims to redress injustice and strengthen trust and cooperation with the countries of origin.

The awarded projects aim to promote knowledge development, knowledge exchange and cooperation between researchers from countries where museum collections and objects with a colonial context originate. These projects also support cooperation between these international researchers and museums in the Netherlands. 

There are many questions regarding objects and collections with a colonial context, such as how they should be handled, their significance in their historical context and in contemporary changing societies and national agendas, and questions about repatriation to the country of origin. Research into such objects and collections requires specific expertise from and close cooperation with the countries of origin, as this is essential for understanding the collections and creating more equitable discussions.

The budget available for this call for proposals is €2.855 million. A maximum of €35,000 is available for researcher exchange proposals. A maximum of €350,000 is available for consortium grant proposals.