The Artpool Foundation is announcing a research fellowship program to facilitate the study, in smaller phases, of the complex body of work of Artpool’s founder, György Galántai (1941–), an art researcher, multimedia artist, and creator of institutions.
The program aims to encourage and support scholarly research into the multifaceted oeuvre of this highly influential artist, including
- the individual creative periods and directions
- outstanding projects (exhibitions, art events)
- research and analysis of the domestic and international context, connections, and influences of the body of work.
Applications may be submitted in the form of a research proposal that aligns with the program’s objectives.
Preference will be given to proposals that are detailed, reflect a comprehensive understanding of the artist’s oeuvre, are professionally substantiated, take into account both current research trends and the Hungarian and international art-historical context, and demonstrate methodological reflection, as well as those that examine lesser-known and hitherto under-analyzed aspects of the artist’s oeuvre.
To assist researchers, the Artpool Foundation and the Museum of Fine Arts – KEMKI – Artpool Art Research Center (1135 Budapest, Szabolcs u. 33.) will provide the necessary information, offer the opportunity to study documentation and archival materials (notes, diary entries, photos, press materials, etc.), and provide access to view works owned by the artist, as well as the opportunity for personal conversation, consultation, and interviews with György Galántai.
(➤ Further useful information)
Grant available through this call for proposals: 300,000 HUF net*
(The funding provided by the Artpool Foundation is expected to support 5–6 proposals per year for a period of 3–4 years)
The applicant agrees to produce, as a result of the research, a scholarly article of at least one author’s sheet (40,000 characters) within 6 months of signing the contract.
Thereafter, the research on Galántai’s oeuvre that has already begun may be continued by submitting a new application,
or the Museum of Fine Arts may enter into a contract of engagement with a deserving applicant to continue the research on Galántai’s oeuvre.
Required application materials:
- Professional résumé
- A research proposal of no more than 2–3 pages that briefly addresses the following:
- justification for the choice of topic
- the planned approach to the work and research—tasks, research methods
- timeline
Applications must be submitted electronically to the email address artpool@artpool.hu.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and evaluations are conducted periodically, at least every two months.
The first deadline is May 17, 2026.
Applications will be evaluated by the Curatorial Board of the Artpool Foundation.
Members of the Curatorial Board: Júlia Klaniczay (Chair), Veronika Baksa-Soós, György Galántai, András Müllner, Zsuzsanna Rónai.
The evaluation process is carried out in two stages:
In the first stage, the Artpool Foundation notifies the applicants whose proposals have been accepted and asks them to prepare a detailed research plan and schedule. At this point, the Foundation also offers the opportunity for a personal consultation if the applicant requests one.
In the second stage, once the detailed research plan and schedule have been approved, the scholarship agreement will be signed.
Második ütemben, a részletes kutatási terv és ütemezés elfogadása esetén kerül sor az ösztöndíjas szerződés megkötésére.
To ensure a more accurate decision, the Curatorial Board may request that the applicant present their submitted research plan in a personal presentation, or may seek the opinions of additional experts.
The Artpool Foundation will enter into a contract with the successful applicant, under which the fellowship researcher is entitled to the research fellowship.
Grant Schedule (for accepted applications):
-
HUF 100,000 net* upon approval of the detailed research plan and schedule (payable after the fellowship agreement is signed)
-
HUF 200,000 net* upon submission of at least one academic text/study of at least 40,000 characters, completed within 6 months at the latest.
The researcher receiving the fellowship is obliged to produce a high-quality output in accordance with the work plan by the specified deadline.
The Curatorial Board reserves the right to suspend the scholarship or terminate the fellowship agreement if the research does not proceed according to the schedule or if other obstacles arise on the part of the researcher.
Any further information regarding the application may be requested at artpool@artpool.hu.
Copyright and User Rights
The submitter of the winning proposal may freely use, publish, and present the research results (provided that the grant is properly acknowledged).
The successful applicant also agrees that the Foundation may use the research conducted under the successful application, as well as its results, for publication purposes in accordance with terms agreed upon in advance with the applicant. Other detailed provisions regarding such use shall be governed by the user agreement concluded between the successful applicant and the Foundation.
Application Requirements / Declarations
By submitting an application, the applicant declares that the documentation submitted for the application is his/her own intellectual property.
The applicant acknowledges that the submitted application materials will be added to the archives of the Artpool Art Research Center and will be made available to researchers.
The applicant accepts the decision of the curatorial board, as well as the fact that the curatorial board will not provide justification for its decisions regarding unsuccessful applications. The applicant further acknowledges that all avenues of legal recourse regarding the application decision are excluded.
The applicant agrees that the provision of data in connection with the application is voluntary and, by submitting the application, consents to the Artpool Foundation processing the personal data provided in the application during the evaluation of the application and (if the applicant is selected) during the implementation of the project.
* Research fellowships awarded by public benefit foundations, such as the Artpool Foundation, are exempt from income tax under applicable Hungarian tax laws (Section 3.1 of Annex 1 to Act CXVII of 1995).
USEFUL INFORMATION
Resources available for the grant application and research
The archives and library of the Artpool Art Research Center, as well as its database—which is currently available for on-site research only—contain approximately 2,600 bibliographic entries related to the life’s work and activities of György Galántai.
The on-site (incomplete) database currently contains 834 works by Galántai and 472 biographical events associated with him. Photo documentation is available for a significant portion of these.
György Galántai’s personal archive, available for on-site research, comprises approximately 20 linear meters of material, including notes, diaries, project documentation, photographs of artworks, conceptual and graphic designs, etc.
In addition, related materials include nearly 6 linear meters of documentation from the Balatonboglár Chapel Studio, as well as 20 linear meters of documentation from the Artpool Archive and the Artpool Art Research Center, along with thousands of digitized photos, numerous videos, and audio recordings.
Publications available in PDF format that can serve as a starting point for research on Galántai’s oeuvre:
◼︎ Galántai – Életmunkák / Lifeworks 1968–1993 (eds.: György Galántai and Júlia Klaniczay), Artpool – Enciklopédia Kiadó, Budapest, 1996., 320 p.
Download pdf: https://artpool.hu/galantaikonyv/Galantai_001-320+borito_120dpi.pdf
◼︎ Törvénytelen avantgárd. Galántai György balatonboglári kápolnaműterme 1970–1973 [Illegal Avantgarde. The Chapel Studio of György Galántai in Balatonboglár 1970–1973]. Edited by Júlia Klaniczay and Edit Sasvári, Artpool–Balassi, 2003, 459 p.
https://artpool.hu/boglar/konyv.html
◼︎ ARTPOOL - The Experimental Art Archive of East-Central Europe. History of an active archive for producing, networking, curating, and researching art since 1970. Edited by György Galántai and Julia Klaniczay. Foreword by Kristine Stiles, Artpool - Budapest, 2013, 536 pages
https://www.artpool.hu/2013/Artpool_book_en.html
◼︎ A MUHINA PROJEKT. Létértelmezések Galántai György életművében / THE MUKHINA PROJECT. Interpretations of Being in György Galántai's Oeuvre (ed.: Júlia Klaniczay), VINTAGE Galéria, Budapest, 2018, 144 p.
https://artpool.hu/2018/muhina_konyvismerteto_en.html
➤ SUGGESTED RESEARCH TOPICS
➤ GYÖRGY GALÁNTAI'S PROFESSIONAL CURRICULUM VITAE
On the cover: György Galántai's Self Transformation (1976) and Counter-Stepper (1975)