SAARC Cultural Centre proposes the SAARC Research Grants 2026

CALL FOR PROPOSALS – SAARC RESEARCH GRANTS 2026

INTERPRETING SHARED HERITAGE: CROSS-CULTURAL NARRATIVES IN MUSEUMS IN THE SAARC REGION

1. Background

As approved by the Fifteenth Meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Cultural Centre held in Colombo from 19-20 August 2025 and the Sixty-second Session of the Programming Committee Meeting held in Kathmandu from 11-12 February 2026, SAARC Cultural Centre proposes the SAARC Research Grants 2026.

SAARC Region is home to diverse cultures and vibrant artistic traditions that are reflected in languages, philosophies, performing arts, crafts, rituals, tremendous knowledge of the universe and nature, historical identities, and many others. Museums in the SAARC Countries are uniquely positioned to interpret and communicate these cross-cultural narratives, fostering mutual understanding, honour, and respect of self and others, and regional solidarity.

The history of museum-making shows that museums are not merely repositories for storing and exhibiting artifacts, but also active agents in the construction of cultural narratives, consequently shaping public understanding of history and culture. Museums in South Asia have vast collections of artifacts ranging from textiles, sculptures, manuscripts, to art pieces that transcend national borders yet often present fragmented narratives that overlook cross-cultural linkages.

Therefore, it is imperative to re-examine the traditional role of museums and to explore and examine how museums in the SAARC Region (re) interpret and present shared cultural heritage, and to analyse the role of cross-cultural narratives that reflect the complexities of cross-cultural interactions.

The SCC invites academics and researchers from Member States to submit detailed research project proposals. Each researcher will be granted US $ 3,000 (or an equivalent amount in the local currency) for carrying out the research. The Research Grant will be distributed in Two (2) installments, the First installment (US$1500) at the commencement of the project and the Final installment (US$1500) after the submission of the final Report.

The selection of research project proposals shall be carried out by a Team of Experts. The Research Grants will be subject to a Mid-term Review during which the Grantees shall submit a Progress Report and presentation to the Team of Experts via online/offline mode. Any suggestions/recommendations made by the Team of Experts during the Review must be incorporated duly into the final Report by the respective researchers. At the end of the Grant period the Grantees shall submit the final Report to the SCC.

2. Sub-Themes

• Museums-Colonial Legacies and Decolonization
• Re-examining Museum Practices and Processes of Collecting and Curating
• Museums as Repositories and Communicators of Culture and Knowledge
• Museums as Spaces shaping South Asia's Cross-Cultural Dialogues

3. Objectives

• To assess the role of museums in promoting regional solidarity through shared heritage interpretation
• To identify overlapping heritage elements across SAARC countries as represented in museum collections
• Analyse and re-examine the current museological practices and to evaluate the challenges in developing cross-cultural narratives
• Explore ways to include marginalized voices in heritage narratives
• Develop inclusive methodologies and foster an understanding of interconnected histories in a region characterized by diversity.

4. Participation and Nominations Process

• Applicants from the SAARC Member Countries are requested to submit a detailed research proposal, along with a detailed budget breakdown (as per the enclosed format), on any of the themes given above.
• Each Member State can forward any number of research proposals for Research proposals should be innovative and original research.
• All applicants must submit the Registration form and Format for the Submission of Research Proposals through the SAARC Division of the respective Foreign Ministries/External Affairs of the Member States for onward transmission to the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu.
• An advance copy of the above documents can be emailed to sccpublications@gmail.com
• Format for the application can be downloaded from the SCC (www.saarcculture.org)
• Only those research proposals as received through official channel will be accepted by the SAARC Cultural Centre and placed before the Research Grants Committee (RGC) of the SAARC Cultural Centre. The RGC will review the research proposals and select up to Eight proposals for the purpose of research grant.
• All the research grants will be subject to a mid-term review and the continuation of the project will be subject to the approval of the Progress Report by the Research Review Committee (RRC) of the SAARC Cultural Centre. For this purpose the SAARC Cultural Centre would hold a Review Meeting of the project in which all the researchers would be required to present their progress of the research. Any suggestions/ recommendations made by the SAARC Cultural Centre at this stage may be included in the research process by the respective researchers.
• At the end of the research project each researcher will be required to submit a publishable draft of the Research report (c. 20,000 to 30,000 words).
• All Research reports will be reviewed, edited (if so required) and, subject to the recommendation of the reviewer, published by the SAARC Cultural Centre under its publications programme.

NB: Academics, scholars, and researchers of the SAARC Member States who have previously received the SAARC research grants, within the last 5 years, are not eligible to apply.

5. Tentative Time Schedule

10 months (Starting from May 2026-March 2027)

Last Date for submitting research proposals – 10 May 2026
Approval of the research project – 30 May 2026
Progress Report – October 2026
Final Report – March 2027

6. Additional Information

Focal person at SCC:
Deputy Director (Research)
Email: sccpublications@gmail.com

Download Here:
PDF: Details, Application Form
WORD: Application Form