For the Leigh Fermor House fellowships programme, the Benaki Museum collaborates with three universities: Freie Universität Berlin (Centrum Modernes Griechenland / Dahlem Humanities Center), Princeton University (Stanley J. Seeger ’52 Center for Hellenic Studies), and University of California Los Angeles (Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture). Each one of these academic institutions chooses two fellows per academic year, in addition to the fellows chosen by the Benaki Museum, applying coordinated selection criteria and review processes. Fellows are in residence at the former home of Patrick and Joan Leigh Fermor in Kardamyli, Greece. The couple donated their beautiful house to the Benaki Museum in 1996, with the intention of keeping it open to the public and hosting researchers.

 

OPEN CALL

DESCRIPTION

Leigh Fermor House fellowships are offered twice annually and are awarded through an evaluation process. Awardees are appointed for one term and are expected to pursue research projects on a full-time basis on topics relating to the subject areas covered by the Benaki Museum, which span the entire length of Greek history and the entire breadth of Greek culture while also including several world cultures (Islamic, Chinese, African, Pre-Columbian American, Korean, et al.). Please check benaki.org and visit ‘Collections’. 
Fellowships are available for the autumn or spring terms: autumn term appointments are from 4 November to 18 December 2024 (1.5 months) and spring term appointments are from 5 February to 19 March 2025 (1.5 months). Leigh Fermor House fellowships are residential, and fellows devote the majority of their time to research and writing.

Before departure from the Leigh Fermor House, fellows submit a written review on their activities while in residence. They may also be invited in Athens (Benaki Museum) and/or in Berlin (DHC and CeMoG) to give a presentation. 

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Fellows may be accompanied by one family member (children over 16 years old only) or spouse. Fellows are provided with a room with one double bed, personal workspace, one meal per day (for the accompanying part as well), and controlled access to the Leigh Fermor House library.

The Benaki Museum cannot provide a stipend to fellows; therefore they should cover their expenses during their stay at the Leigh Fermor House and make their own travel arrangements to and from the Leigh Fermor House. Early career researchers (postdocs) are eligible for payment of a lump sum of EUR 500,- to help cover their travel costs. These travel funds are made available by the Dahlem Humanities Center. Fellows are also responsible for arranging their own health insurance.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications are invited by scholars in all disciplines covered by the Benaki Museum collections (see above), who are affiliated with Freie Universität Berlin and the Berlin University Alliance as well as emeriti faculty members. Welcome to apply are scholars with a Ph.D., and a distinguished record of publications, or showing extraordinary research potential. Fellows are expected to be fluent in English.

We regret that due to the location and terrain of the property, the House is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact the Benaki Museum for more information on accessibility for people with restricted mobility.

CRITERIA

Applications are reviewed by an interdisciplinary group of reviewers, specialists in the candidate’s academic discipline, appointed by the DHC and the CeMoG. 

The Academic Committee makes Leigh Fermor House Fellowship awards on the basis of several criteria:

• scholarly accomplishment, overall academic excellence and promise,
• significance and quality of the research proposal in definition, clarity, organisation and scope,
• potential future impact through teaching and writing, and
• first-time applicants; (a period of at least five years must elapse between a successful fellowship award at the Leigh Fermor House and a new fellowship application from the same person)

HOW TO APPLY

For applications to be considered:

1. The application form must be completed in full and submitted along with the supporting materials to geschaeftsfuehrung@dhc.fu-berlin.de.

2. Τhe following supporting material must be submitted as (preferably one) pdf, along with the application form, to geschaeftsfuehrung@dhc.fu-berlin.de:

• cover sheet with title and summary (200 words) of proposed research project and a brief bio (one paragraph)
• research proposal (3 pages, 1,000 words maximum), including description of project, timetable, explicit goals
• a standard, detailed curriculum vitae including a list of publications
• two samples of recent work (in the original language)

All supporting material (except from the sample of recent work) must be submitted in English or German.

DEADLINE

All materials submitted by applicants must be received by 17 March 2024. To ensure applications are received before the deadline, early submission is encouraged.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDS

Awards will be announced in May 2024.

POSTPONEMENT DUE TO FORCE MAJEURE 

By approval of its Board of Trustees, the Benaki Museum reserves the right to postpone the fellowships programme, due to force majeure (pandemic restrictions etc). In this case, the awarded fellowships will be moved.