YVES KLEIN RESEARCH GRANT
AT A GLANCE
WHO CAN APPLY?
Researchers under 35 years of age, holding a PhD or postdoctoral degree, of any nationality and country of residence, conducting research in art history, aesthetics or the humanities.
RESIDENCY DATES
Autumn 2026 — no later than the first half of December 2026.
Exact dates will be defined with the selected grantee.
RESIDENCY DURATION
One week, corresponding to five working days on site.
AVAILABLE FUNDING
A research grant of CHF 6,000 to support research and writing.
Travel and accommodation costs if any, are covered by the Yves Klein Foundation.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Central European Time)
RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT
Notification to applicants: July 30, 2026
Public announcement on yvesklein.com: September 10, 2026
YVES KLEIN RESEARCH GRANT
The Yves Klein Foundation works to promote and foster the public understanding of Yves Klein’s work through exhibitions, research projects, publications, the preservation of his body of work and the development of the catalogue raisonné.
Based in Lugano (Switzerland), the Foundation carries forward the fundamental mission initiated by its founding members, Rotraut Klein-Moquay, Yves Klein’s widow, and Daniel Moquay: to preserve, study, share with a large audience and highlight the artist’s major contribution to the history of art in the second half of the 20th century.
A key figure of the avant‑garde, Yves Klein played a decisive role in redefining art, calling for the “overcoming” of its “problematic.” He radically and poetically transformed what art can be, the way it manifests, and the spaces and media through which it takes form, even forging his own system of values. His art, writings and ideas laid the groundwork upon which contemporary art has developed.
Faithful to the artist’s spirit of innovation and driven by the desire to carry forward, more than sixty years after his passing, the boldness and strength of his vision, the Yves Klein Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a new research grant program. Its purpose is to support the renewal of scholarship dedicated to the artist and to encourage deeper exploration of his work, ideas and enduring creative legacy.
The first research grant will be launched in spring 2026 and from 2027 onward, the Foundation will award two grants per year. The program includes a residency and a stipend of CHF 6,000. It is intended for emerging researchers of any nationality and aims to foster new narratives, situate the artist’s work within a broader cultural context, shed light on its resonance with contemporary societal and ecological challenges and consider its reception across diverse geographies.
Through this initiative, the Foundation seeks to support a new generation of researchers by promoting mobility, facilitating access to resources and offering dedicated scholarly guidance. It aims to keep Yves Klein’s legacy alive and to situate it within the most contemporary debates, reaffirming his place as an artist whose work continues to resonate powerfully with our present.
ELIGIBILITY
The Yves Klein Research Grant program is open, through a call for applications, to researchers of any nationality and country of residence conducting research in art history, aesthetics or the humanities.
Applicants must hold a PhD or postdoctoral degree, demonstrate strong academic proficiency in French or English—both written and spoken—and be under 35 years of age at the time of application.
Applications are evaluated based on the relevance and originality of the project, the scientific and methodological quality of the research, the need to access documentary resources related to Yves Klein, and the feasibility of the project within the framework of the grant.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Selected on the basis of their application by a jury composed of four art‑world professionals and the Director of the Yves Klein Foundation, the grantee receives an award of CHF 6,000 to support their research and writing.
Travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the Foundation.
The award is disbursed in two instalments by bank transfer from the Yves Klein Foundation to the grantee: CHF 3,000 net during the research residency and CHF 3,000 net upon completion of the final text, once it has been submitted to the Foundation.
The research residency lasts one week. The grantee receives tailored support for their research, facilitated access to documentary resources and a dedicated workspace.
The Foundation will coordinate and facilitate access to the artist’s archives in Paris.
The residency will conclude with a review and presentation to the Foundation’s President and Director.
The final text, submitted by the grantee within six months of the residency, may be published in both French and English on the website yvesklein.com. The Yves Klein Foundation may also consider, together with the grantee, additional forms of public dissemination to accompany the text (podcast, lecture, publication, etc.).
By accepting the award, the grantee agrees to:
- begin the residency in autumn 2026, no later than mid‑December 2026.
- be present on site for five working days.
- write and submit a text of 30,000 characters (including spaces), in French or English, within six months after the conclusion of the residency.
The residency will be governed by a contract signed by the Yves Klein Foundation and the grantee.
YVES KLEIN RESEARCH GRANT #01 — CALENDAR
April 28 – June 15, 2026: Call for applications
July 2026: Selection of the grantee by the jury. Each applicant will receive an emailinforming them of the jury’s decision on July 30, 2026.
September 10, 2026: Public announcement of the grantee on yvesklein.com
Autumn 2026 — exact dates to be defined with the grantee: Research residency
April 2027: Submission of the final text by the grantee
APPLICATION MATERIALS
The application file must include:
- A statement of intent (max. 4,000 characters, including spaces) presenting a well‑argued project that can be carried out within the framework of the residency, demonstrating the need to access documentary resources related to Yves Klein and to receive scholarly support.
- A detailed curriculum vitae (max. 4 pages) indicating current position, academic background, ongoing research and recent publications.
- A writing sample authored by the applicant and published in a book, journal or online.
- One letter of recommendation signed by a research professional.
Additional Guidelines:
- Once the application has been submitted it can no longer be modified. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that all required documents are included; no notification will be sent in the event of missing materials, and only complete applications will be reviewed.
- All documents must be written in French or English; any materials in other languages must include a translation.
- Submitting an application implies full acceptance of the commitments and conditions set out in this call for applications.
- All application materials must be compiled into a single PDF file (max 10 MB), organized in the order indicated above and titled as follows: LASTNAME_Firstname_research.pdf
Applications must be submitted exclusively by email before Monday, June 15, 2026
11:59 p.m. (Central European Time), to the following address:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is administrative or logistical support provided to grantees?
The grant is open internationally. Applicants from abroad are responsible for ensuring the legality of their stay in Europe and for managing any visa applications or travel documents. The Yves Klein Foundation provides basic administrative support to facilitate the organization of the research residency (booking and funding of travel and accommodation, practical information).
Can I apply as a duo or collective?
Applications must be submitted individually. Each project must be carried by a single applicant, who will be the sole beneficiary of the grant if selected.
Can I submit more than one project?
Each applicant may submit only one project per call for applications, in order to allow the jury to evaluate each proposal carefully and ensure fairness among candidates. However, applicants may reapply in future calls.
What types of projects are eligible?
Eligible projects include research focusing on Yves Klein’s work, thought, practices, or the historical, artistic or theoretical contexts related to him. The research does not need to focus exclusively on the artist, but it must maintain a clear and relevant connection to his work or legacy. Comparative or transdisciplinary approaches situating Yves Klein within a broader framework are also welcome, provided that the link to the artist remains the primary focus.
Contact
WEB yvesklein.com/en/fondation/
EMAIL research@yvesklein.com
