Research: To Strengthen the Culture of Knowledge |The 10th Edition 2026 – 2027


Cultural Policies in Syria: Unpacking the Legacy of the Past, Building New Possibilities

Ettijahat – Independent Culture announces that applications are now open for the 10th edition of the Research to Strengthen the Culture of Knowledge programme. This edition seeks to generate critical and research-based contributions that advance in-depth knowledge on the issues and priorities of cultural policies in Syria. It focuses on analysing the history of cultural policies in Syria, exploring comparative Arab and international models and experiences that can be adapted to the current Syrian context, and proposing applicable cultural policy frameworks and principles that respond to the present needs of the arts and culture sector, while providing a shared knowledge foundation for all those working in this sector.

Ettijahat looks forward to receiving research proposals from practitioners working in the arts and research fields and in related disciplines, including sociology and heritage studies; as well as from researchers and arts facilitators from Syria who are based in Syria, the Arab Region, and Europe.

This call is directed at researchers who are able to connect critical analysis of the Syrian experience with insights drawn from comparative contexts, and to approach policy as a tool for gradual change rather than as an idealised construct detached from reality. Accordingly, the anticipated research papers are not conceived as closed academic outputs, but as knowledge contributions open to circulation and debate, forming part of a broader process aimed at building shared understandings around the future of cultural work in Syria.

This edition aspires to serve as a space for generating policy-oriented knowledge grounded in the experiences and capacities of those working in the cultural sector, recognising them as partners in shaping this knowledge. It aims to produce ten research papers that will form the foundation of a knowledge base contributing to the development of proposals that can be adopted and put into practice, enriching consultative processes within the cultural sector and opening them up to wider public debate.

To read and download the research framework please click on the file attached below at the end of this page. (Kindly read the research framework before submitting your application)

To review the Frequently Asked Questions and complete the application form, please visit Ettijahat‘s E-Applications platform by clicking here. (We advise you to use Google Chrome while filling the application form).

Application Process

  • Applications are submitted through an open call for ten research proposals. The call is primarily directed at practitioners working in the fields of arts and culture, as well as researchers in relevant social sciences and humanities disciplines. The call also welcomes the inclusion of individuals from diverse backgrounds in the formulation of cultural policies, including economists, legal experts, and professionals working in transitional justice, environmental issues, and feminist practice.
  • Priority will be given to researchers at intermediate stages of their research careers, particularly those under the age of 40.
  • Applicants are expected to possess an adequate level of knowledge and familiarity with research work and methodologies.
  • This call is open to all interested Syrian applicants as well as Palestinian-Syrians residing in Syria, the Arab Region, or Europe.
  • The call primarily addresses individual researchers; however, proposals submitted by research groups may also be considered.
  • Proposals may focus on broad approaches to cultural policy or specialise in specific sub-sectors.
  • The required length of the final research papers ranges between 15,000 and 20,000 words.
  • Submissions must be original, unpublished work and aligned with the programme’s overall research framework.
  • Ettijahat encourages research and critical papers that strike a balance between academic research standards and accessibility to readers through digital platforms.
  • The programme includes an individual research track for each participant, alongside parallel collective meetings among researchers to foster complementarity, build shared knowledge spaces, and ensure a cohesive approach that expands opportunities for learning. This requires participants to be open to coordination and collaboration with their peers and with the edition’s lead facilitators, and to allocate sufficient time for this process.
  • A specialised committee of researchers will review the submitted proposals. The members of the committee will be announced following the completion of the evaluation period.
  • Research proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
    • Conceptual quality of the proposal: The clarity of the proposal, its central research question and intellectual grounding, and its engagement with relevant existing literature.
    • Methodological soundness: The suitability of the selected methods or approach to the research problem, and the coherence of the research plan in addressing the main research question and its sub-questions.
    • Practical dimension: The potential of the research effort to translate the knowledge it generates into guiding principles that can be implemented progressively.
    • Precision of research objectives and alignment with the programme’s thematic axes: The clear positioning of the research within one of the five axes outlined in the research framework.
    • Readability: The clarity of the proposal’s presentation, the soundness of its academic language, and the logical progression and organisation of its structure.
  • Ettijahat offers financial support of €2,500 for each selected applicant, in addition to a specialised training and mentorship programme, travel opportunities, public events, publication, and promotional activities.
  • Current members of Ettijahat’s team, members of its General Assembly, first-degree relatives of team members, and any projects involving personal collaborations with Ettijahat staff are not eligible to apply.
  • Applicants who are currently receiving support from other Ettijahat programmes are not eligible to apply. However, those who have completed and closed their grants before the end of 2024 may submit an application.
  • All applications are guaranteed a fair evaluation process. Members of the selection committee will recuse themselves from reviewing any proposals submitted by individuals with whom they have a first-degree familial relationship or direct collaboration; such proposals will be assessed by the remaining committee members.
  • Proposals prepared using artificial intelligence tools will be disqualified.

Programme Components

First: Capacity-Building and Mentorship Component

The production of the research papers is anchored in a specialised training programme aimed at strengthening the capacities of participating researchers in the field of cultural policy research and supporting their work within integrated research groups. This component includes the following:

First Training Workshop

Held in person in Damascus at the outset of the programme, this workshop focuses on:

  • Concepts and approaches to cultural policy;
  • Qualitative and analytical research methodologies in transitional contexts;
  • Research ethics and engaging with actors and institutions;
  • Developing research proposals, defining research spaces, and fostering complementarity among participating researchers.

Research Mentorship and Advisory Programme

The mentorship programme constitutes a core element of this component. A research committee composed of three researchers with expertise in cultural policy and related fields will mentor all participating researchers, fostering a collective framework based on knowledge exchange and shared critical dialogue. This component aims to:

  • Support the development of the research problem and refine research questions;
  • Mentor researchers in building their theoretical and methodological frameworks;
  • Provide periodic critical feedback on research drafts;
  • Ensure the quality of research outputs and their alignment with the project’s overall framework.

The committee will organise regular group meetings bringing together participating researchers to discuss shared challenges, enhance complementarity between the research papers, and build a cross-cutting knowledge perspective. When necessary, external experts or specialised researchers may be consulted to provide targeted advice in specific fields beyond the committee’s expertise.

Second: Preparing Research Papers

This component focuses on mentoring researchers throughout the development of their papers to ensure academic quality and readiness for publication. It includes scholarly review, language editing and academic revision, adherence to publication standards and requirements, and an independent evaluation by an external reviewer to further strengthen objectivity and the quality of outputs.

Third: Public Events

A series of events is designed to discuss and further develop the research outcomes, providing spaces to share them with wider audiences and to engage in dialogue around the ideas and findings explored by researchers during the writing process. These events aim to deepen and strengthen participants’ understanding of the topics they are addressing.

Fourth: Publication

The completed research papers will be published in partnership with Mamdouh Adwan Publishing House, following a review, editing, and final drafting process supported by the Ettijahat team and a number of experts. Publication remains contingent upon the quality and development of the research proposal, and its fulfilment of the approved academic and editorial standards.

Key Dates

Since its launch in 2013, the Research programme has received 461 applications and enabled more than 100 participants to attend training sessions and pursue their research projects, resulting in the publication of over 80 research papers in Arabic and English. The programme has also built a network of cultural practitioners comprising more than 150 culture and arts experts from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Europe, including trainers, mentors, selection committee members, and reviewers, in addition to research bodies, institutes, and universities. It has produced educational materials on cultural research skills, practical guides, and audio-visual resources in collaboration with experts and researchers, and has organised open public discussion sessions.

This edition of the Research programme is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

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