International Student Meetings for FHA26

For its fifteenth edition, the festival is organizing a unique international student gathering in Morocco and France, focusing on the theme Art, Artists, Artisans—An Organic Link?

Organized by the National Institute of Art History (INHA), in partnership with the German Center for Art History (DFK Paris), the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMVI) in Rabat, and the Fondation pour l’art et la recherche, the event aims to foster connections, dialogue, and collaboration among advanced doctoral candidates from Moroccan, African, European, German and French universities. The program is made possible with support from Getty through its Connecting Art Histories initiative.

The focus on the theme “Art, Artists, Artisans—An Organic Link? (Morocco, Africa, Europe)” reflects a vision of an art history that is both globally connected and critically engaged with questions of artistic production, circulation, and exchange.

Craftsmanship is very present in Morocco’s contemporary artistic landscape. Arbitrarily separated from artistic creation under the Protectorate, under the name “indigenous art,” craftsmanship nevertheless has a vocation to be integrated into the fine arts. In Morocco, artists from the Casablanca School immediately established a dialogue with artisans in order to redefine the role of art in Moroccan society. These exchanges have continued to this day, notably through the work of women artists, craftswomen, anthropologists, and/or architects (Amina Agueznay, Sara Ouhaddou, Salima Naji).

The 2026 edition of the International Student Meetings will:

• Revisit the organic link between art, crafts and arts & crafts under the heading of “technè” in ancient Greece;
• Call upon the European movements that have promoted these links (Bauhaus, for example);
• Question the role of colonization in the ideological construction of a separation between these fields (Indigenous arts);
• Study the position of artisans from the African continent in relation to European market demands;
• Explore the feminine, ecological, and ultimately degrowth-oriented dimension of these renewed practices;
• Focus on the contemporary development of ‘métiers d’art’ (arts and crafts) in France;
• Will examine the dynamic and unequal relationship between colonial influence and local traditions in the construction of categories in art history.

Context, about the Art History Festival and the International Student Meetings

Created by the National Institute of Art History, the International Student Meetings is part of the Art History Festival (FHA). Each year, the festival program is structured around a central theme and a guest country. The principle of opening the field of art history to invited countries ensures the festival’s international reach beyond national borders, fostering dialogue and encouraging international collaboration. This year, and for the first time in the festival’s history, a country from the African continent is being honored: Morocco. As a result, this edition will be marked by collaborations with leading Moroccan universities and museums.

For the fifth consecutive year, the International Student Meetings takes the form of a research seminar combined with free participation in the festival. The program provides an opportunity to build strong connections among doctoral candidates and to offer them privileged encounters with academics and professionals working in the fields of art history, museums, and cultural heritage. By fostering new relationships among peers and facilitating exchanges with professionals, the program makes a significant contribution to the participants’ academic and professional development while broadening their international perspectives.

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 11, to Friday, May 15, 2026, in Rabat.
  Five days of workshops, meetings with cultural professionals and art historians, and visits to collections, exhibitions, and archives related to Morocco.
• Second Session: Tuesday, May 26, to Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Paris and Fontainebleau.
  In Paris, second session of workshops, meetings and visits, then from Friday, June, 5, participants will attend lectures, round tables, professional meetings, and other events as part of the festival’s rich programming (events will be held in French).

The seminars will be held in French and English.

Application Details

This call is open to advanced doctoral candidates conducting studies in art history, heritage, architecture, museum studies, or archaeology.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (midnight).

Applications must be submitted via this form. Applicants are required to provide:

1. A CV
2. A 4,000-character text (maximum) presenting their research and its connection to the outlined theme
3. A motivation letter (one page) 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 and French is essential.

The festival and its partners will cover accommodation, transport, and will reimburse all meal expenses during both sessions in Morocco and France, as well as entry to museums and exhibitions.