Residency

Residency Program

The Residency Programme is one of the central components of the “GBF” initiative and addresses international students, researchers, and scholars.  

This prestigious fellowship offers a three-month research grant focused on an in-depth examination of a single selected painting. The programme encourages innovative research approaches, fostering fresh perspectives on Indian paintings, their broader artistic contexts, and the workshops of Indian painters. Fellows will have the unique opportunity to collaborate closely with curators and museum professionals, gaining hands-on experience across various departments at Museum Rietberg. 

Key objectives include: 

  • Advancing new methodologies in the study of Indian paintings 
  • Exploring the artistic, historical, and technical aspects of a selected work 
  • Engaging with museum collections and research facilities 

The GBF Fellowship particularly supports early-career scholars—Master’s, Doctoral, and Post-Doctoral candidates—helping them refine their critical perspectives and contribute to the evolving discourse on Indian art. 

Please note that these research grants are by invitation only. The current application process is closed.

Stay tuned for future announcements!

Previous Open Calls

Open Call 2025 (closed)

One Object in Question 

The proposal, focusing on "one" painting from a primary selection of four, will allow an in-depth exploration of these works, examining every facet of their creation. The aim is to investigate closely and extract as much information as possible. Who might have produced this painting? Was it part of a series or set? Who was its intended audience? Was it produced under a state patronage or for a single patron? What insights do the inscriptions offer, and do they enhance the artwork’s value or meaning? Does the painting reflect the ideologies of the court or religion it represents? Were these works used by their creators or patrons as statements of power within religious or socio-political contexts? Are they complete works of art in their own right? What has been written and concluded about these paintings? Furthermore, how did these objects come to be part of the Rietberg collection? At a fundamental level, what do we know about the painters and workshops behind them?

For more information, click here.

The candidate for this program will be selected in May 2025.