Call for Applications

Goethe-Institut Israel, in partnership with the Polonsky Academy at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, invites applications for a six-week academic residency for postdoctoral researchers or doctoral candidates in the fields of visual, literary, or performing arts, from or based in Germany. The successful applicant will join the community of scholars at the Polonsky Academy from 9 November to 21 December 2025 to pursue original research in a vibrant interdisciplinary environment and will have opportunities for immersion in the diverse cultural scene of this historically and culturally unique city through exchanges with local artists and cultural institutions.

The successful applicant will be a postdoctoral researcher or doctoral candidate in the final stages of their PhD, with demonstrated scholarly achievement in the fields of visual, literary, or performing arts. The successful applicant’s project will be related to artistic/cultural practice and will benefit from collaborative interdisciplinary engagement. We particularly encourage applicants working on the seam between practice and theory, such as artists, designers or curators with a practice-based PhD. 

The Goethe-Institut residency scholar will play an active part in the life of the Polonsky Academy, will participate in the weekly seminars (including presenting their current research) and will organize and lead two events open to the public. In turn, they will enjoy a nurturing and stimulating academic environment, a spacious private office, access to the institutional library and other facilities, a grant of 2000 EURO, accommodation in Jerusalem and a return flight.

The Polonsky Academy is part of and hosted at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. The Institute fosters innovative interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences and develops new ways of addressing questions of global concern that have special importance for the society in Israel and in and the region.

Interested applicants should submit the following (in English) to Goethe-polonskyresidency@vanleer.org.il by 15 September 2025:

  • project proposal describing your proposed research, including two public events that you would implement during the residency (maximum 2 pages).
  • personal statement setting out your motivation for applying, how the residency aligns with your research, and how you would contribute to the Polonsky Academy
  • short bio (appropriate for website use)
  • full CV
  • [optional] portfolio of up to five previous art/design/curatorial projects with brief descriptions (maximum one page per project) or website links