For the fourth consecutive year, the International Student Meetings will take the form of a research seminar combined with free participation in the festival de l'histoire de l'art in Fontainebleau.

Organized in partnership with the German Center for Art History in Paris, the National Institute of Art History (INHA), the University of Vienna, and the Interdisciplinary Center for German Studies, the event aims to foster connections, dialogue, and collaboration among advanced master’s students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers from Austrian, European, and French universities.

THIS YEAR’S THEME:
DE/CONSTRUCTIONS OF NATIONAL SPECIFICITIES THROUGH THE NARRATIVES OF ART HISTORY
The 2025 edition of the International Student Meetings will explore the issue of national specificities and their de/construction through art history narratives. Throughout the 19th century, the discipline played a central role in shaping nation-states in Europe, contributing to the creation of a canon of national schools believed to embody the immutable traits of each people. Rooted in nationalist thinking, this construction, however, relied on rich international exchanges, with identities often shaped in contrast or rivalry with one another.

In today’s context of a strong resurgence of nationalism in Europe, revisiting these foundations of the discipline seems crucial. Austria, long part of a vast multinational empire, offers an especially interesting case for examining these mechanisms. Its characteristic multiculturalism makes it a prime example for questioning the fictional and constructed nature of national identities.

How can we approach research today or rethink work on collections or exhibitions using tools often inherited from 19th-century methodologies?
What role do museums, galleries, and research institutions play in constructing national specificities?
How can we deconstruct certain nationalist paradigms that continue to influence art history today?

PROGRAM OUTLINE
As both a training tool and a practical platform for art history, the seminar will be divided into two sessions:

First Session: Monday, May 5, to Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Vienna.
Three days of seminars, meetings with cultural professionals and art historians, and visits to collections, exhibitions, and archives related to Austria. The working language will be English.

Second Session: Friday, June 6, to Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the Château de Fontainebleau.
Participants will attend lectures, round tables, professional meetings, and other events as part of the festival’s rich programming (Most events will be held in French and German).

APPLICATION DETAILS
This call is open to advanced master’s students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers conducting studies in art history, heritage, architecture, museum studies, or archaeology.

Application Deadline: Sunday, March 16, 2025 (midnight).
Applications must be submitted via the form linked below. Applicants are required to provide:
- A CV
- A 4,000-character text (maximum) presenting their research and its connection to the outlined theme,
- A motivation letter explaining their interest in this exchange (in English or French).

Selection will be based on the scientific quality of the proposal and the applicant’s motivation. Proficiency in English is essential, and basic knowledge of French is recommended.

The festival and its partners will cover accommodation, transport, and some meals during both sessions in Vienna and Fontainebleau, as well as entry to museums and exhibitions visited during the Vienna exchange program.

More informations and to submit the application : https://www.festivaldelhistoiredelart.fr/les-rencontres-internationales-etudiantes-du-fha25-international-student-meetings-for-fha25/

PROJECT COORDINATORS
German Center for Art History (DFK Paris): Elisabeth Fritz, Deputy Director
National Institute of Art History (INHA): Veerle Thielemans, Scientific Director of the Festival of Art History
University of Vienna, Institute of Art History: David Misteli, Assistant Lecturer
For any questions regarding the International Student Meetings, please contact:

INHA: Sophie Goetzmann
DFK: Elisabeth Fritz
University of Vienna: David Misteli

14E ÉDITION
Festival de l'Histoire de l'Art
https://www.festivaldelhistoiredelart.fr