Ishibashi Foundation Graduate Programme in Japanese Art History and Multimodal Heritage Curation 2026/2027, at the University of Zurich (UZH)
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Programme at a Glance
The Ishibashi Foundation Graduate Programme in Japanese Art History and Multimodal Heritage Curation is a fully funded, non-degree international advanced studies initiative hosted by the Chair of East Asian Art History at the Institute of Art History, University of Zurich (UZH). Aimed at doctoral candidates and advanced MA students, the two-semester hybrid programme combines academic training with curatorial practice, digital curation methods and international exchange. All courses are taught in English. Upon successful completion, participants receive an official Programme Completion Certificate.
Key components include:
- Advanced academic courses in Japanese art history
- Hands-on curatorial practice at partner museums
- Online modules on digital curation and heritage technologies
- An intensive residential workshop in Zurich
- Optional advanced Japanese language training
Residential Workshop 2026
The 2026 Residential Workshop of the Ishibashi Foundation Graduate Programme in Japanese Art History and Multimodal Heritage Curation will take place in the last week of October 2026. The workshop will be hosted jointly by the University of Zurich and the Museum Rietberg, Zurich and led by Prof. Dr. Julie Nelson Davis (University of Pennsylvania), Ishibashi Foundation Visiting Scholar, Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka (Chair of East Asian Art History, UZH), and Dr. Khanh Trinh, Curator of Japanese and Korean Art at the Museum Rietberg, who, within the framework of the programme hosted by UZH, will act as Ishibashi Foundation Visiting Curator. The workshop will focus on intensive, object-based engagement with local collections of Japanese art, combined with methodological training in art history and curatorial practice.
Applications should be submitted electronically by 1 March 2026 to: ishibashi-kgoa@khist.uzh.ch
About the Programme
The Ishibashi Foundation Graduate Programme in Japanese Art History and Multimodal Heritage Curation is a newly established advanced studies initiative hosted by the Chair of East Asian Art History at the Institute of Art History, University of Zurich (UZH). Designed to complement existing degree studies, the programme is aimed at doctoral candidates and MA students in the final phase of their studies. It offers an opportunity to study Japanese art history in a European context, enhance Japanese language skills, and gain hands-on experience in museum curatorial practice as well as in innovative digital approaches to heritage curation.
The programme is made possible thanks to the special support of the Ishibashi Foundation, a Tokyo-based public interest foundation dedicated to fostering cross-cultural understanding, supporting artistic and educational initiatives, and promoting international exchange in the arts and humanities. Its collaboration with UZH reflects a shared commitment to academic excellence, innovation of the arts and heritage sector, and the cultivation of future generations of experts in Japanese art history. The programme also builds on close collaboration with the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC) in Norwich, UK. The Ishibashi Foundation Graduate Programme in Japanese Art History and Multimodal Heritage Curation at the University of Zurich and the Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme at SISJAC are complementary: Zurich focuses on structured education and curatorial training for more junior scholars, while SISJAC offers research-oriented support for more senior early-career researchers. Together, they form a clear progression pathway for advanced study and research in Japanese art history. More information on the SISJAC Programme
The Ishibashi Foundation Graduate Programme is hosted at the Chair of East Asian Art History at the Institute of Art History, University of Zurich (UZH). The programme is further strengthened through collaboration with the Chair of Japanese Philology at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zurich, which provides participants with access to a Japanese language course. The University of Zurich is one of Europe’s leading research universities and Switzerland’s largest public institution of higher education. It is also the only university in Switzerland to host a Chair dedicated to the research and study of East Asian art history.
Programme Overview
The programme unfolds across two semesters, balancing academic depth with practical engagement with Japanese art. Alongside access to specialists in Japanese art history at the Chair of East Asian Art History and advanced Japanese language training at the Chair of Japanese Philology (Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies), participants will work with internationally recognized visiting scholars and curators, engage directly with major collections of Japanese art in Switzerland, gain insight into the rapidly evolving landscape of museum and heritage work shaped by digital transformation, and take part in an intensive, week-long residential workshop in Zurich.
All courses are taught in English, and successful participants receive a programme certificate. Academic credits from the University of Zurich will be issued for enrolled students, and credit transfer may be possible depending on the practices of the students’ home institutions.
The programme is fully funded and free of charge for participants, including teaching-related costs, travel, and accommodation during the residential period in Zurich.
Autumn Semester — Zurich (Hybrid and In-Person)
In the autumn term, programme participants take two core courses. The first is a lecture course taught by an internationally renowned visiting scholar, offering new perspectives on Japanese art history and visual culture. The second is an intensive curatorial practice course, held at a partner museum and led by an expert curator in Japanese art in collaboration with the visiting scholar.
The lecture course is delivered in a hybrid format, combining online sessions with in-person teaching during a week-long residential workshop in Zurich. The curatorial practice course, held at a partner museum, takes place during the residential workshop and gives participants hands-on access to museum collections and curatorial practices and approaches. The workshop includes site visits to additional collections, as well as the opportunity to attend a lecture from the public lecture seriesZurich Lectures in East Asian Art History, which regularly features leading international scholars in the field.
Spring Semester — Online
In the spring term, programme participants have the opportunity to take two online courses. The first one focuses on digital curation in museum contexts and examines how museums and cultural institutions develop, manage, and use digitalized collections. Participants engage with new topics and technologies used in museology today such as virtual and hybrid exhibitions, metadata and cataloguing strategies, digital storytelling, and the use of immersive technologies to expand public access and engagement with collections.
The second is an advanced Japanese language course, provided by the Chair of Japanese Philology at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zurich. This course is recommended but not a required component of the programme. Participants without Japanese can complete the programme successfully, while those with language skills will benefit from an enhanced learning experience.
Academic Credits and Certification
The programme complements existing degree studies and does not lead to the award of an academic degree. Upon successful completion of the courses, students enrolled at the University of Zurich (UZH) receive academic credits awarded by the University of Zurich. External participants may arrange credit recognition through their home institutions (for example, via internship or mobility schemes). All participants will also receive an official Programme Completion Certificate.
Professional Benefits
The programme enhances participants’ specialised knowledge of Japanese art and complements it with practical curatorial experience and digital skills increasingly relevant to museum and heritage sector. The programme contributes to students’ professional development and career development in:
- museums and galleries
- cultural heritage and collections management
- academia and teaching
- digital humanities and exhibition design
Who Should Apply
The programme welcomes PhD candidates and MA students in the final phase of their studies, specializing in Japanese art history enrolled at universities in Europe, including non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom. Applicants should have a strong academic background in Japanese art history. As all courses are taught in English, applicants are expected to have a high level of English proficiency. Japanese language skills are recommended but not required for the successful completion of the programme.
Admission is competitive: candidates will be selected by a screening committee composed of academics and curators in the field, based on academic merits, demonstrated motivation, and the fit of their background with the programme’s objectives. Five places are reserved for excellent students enrolled at UZH and ten for outstanding external applicants from European universities.
Call for Applications for the 2026/27 Cohort
Application Requirements
Applicants should submit one combined PDF (in English) containing:
1. A statement of motivation (1 page)
2. Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages) and academic transcript
3. One academic writing sample (seminar paper, MA thesis chapter, or published article max. 10.000 words )
4. One letter of academic recommendation (submitted with the file or separately)
Timeline
- Application deadline: March 1st 2026
- Online interviews: March 2026 (exact date to be announced)
- Final selection and invitation of participants: April 2026
- Programme start: September 2026
Applications should be submitted electronically to
ishibashi-kgoa@khist.uzh.ch
Enquiries may be directed to:
Programme Director
Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Chair of East Asian Art History
Institute of Art History, UZH
Programme Coordinator
Ms. Saskia Goldschmid
Doctoral Fellow, Chair of East Asian Art History
Institute of Art History, UZH
ishibashi-kgoa@khist.uzh.ch
