Applications are now open for the FIAT/IFTA Media Studies Grant 2026, a global funding opportunity supporting small-scale, archive-based research projects that advance both academic knowledge and professional archival practice.
Researchers worldwide — especially those outside Europe — are strongly encouraged to apply.
📅 Deadline: 15 March 2026
🌍 About the Grant
The Media Studies Grant is offered by FIAT/IFTA (International Federation of Television Archives).
For the 2026 edition, FIAT/IFTA will commission two research projects focused on the evolving role, challenges, and societal value of audiovisual archives in contemporary contexts.
The grant promotes:
Innovative research grounded in audiovisual archives
Practical knowledge exchange with archivists and media professionals
Applied scholarship that benefits both academia and industry
🎯 Core Research Themes
Proposals must address one or more of the following areas:
Audiovisual archives and public service value
Memory and identity through archival media
Precarity in audiovisual archives (labour, funding, sustainability)
Audiovisual archives in Latin America (regional or institutional perspectives)
Interdisciplinary approaches are welcome. Projects may be:
Theoretical
Empirical
Practice-based
Creatively oriented
👩🎓 Who Can Apply?
The call is open to junior and senior researchers across disciplines, including:
Media and communication studies
History and cultural studies
Sociology and political science
Anthropology and conflict studies
Environmental studies
Projects may be stand-alone studies or part of a larger research initiative (e.g., PhD thesis or book project).
📝 Application Requirements
Applicants must:
Submit a complete application in PDF format
Email it to: msc@fiatifta.org
Apply no later than 15 March 2026
Awarded candidates will:
Sign a funding agreement with FIAT/IFTA
Provide regular progress updates to the Media Studies Commission
📌 Expected Deliverables
By the end of the grant period, researchers must provide:
✔ A scholarly research report tailored to broadcast and audiovisual archivists
✔ A public presentation at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference 2026 (São Paulo, Brazil | 6–9 October 2026)
✔ A short social media video highlighting key research insights
✔ Optional creative outputs (e.g., audiovisual essay, interactive story), subject to copyright permissions
All outputs must acknowledge FIAT/IFTA support and be made accessible to the organisation.
📢 Additional Conditions
Funded researchers should be prepared to:
Participate in interviews or promotional sessions
Allow FIAT/IFTA to disseminate outputs via its website and communication channels
FIAT/IFTA retains the right to share research outcomes to support knowledge exchange within archival and media studies communities.
📥 How to Access the Full Call
Applicants should carefully review the complete Call for Proposals document before applying. Download the PDF file from the official call page to ensure all submission requirements are met.
🔎 Why This Grant Matters in 2026
As global debates around media preservation, digital memory, identity politics, and public service broadcasting intensify, audiovisual archives are more critical than ever. This grant provides researchers the opportunity to produce impactful scholarship while engaging directly with an international professional community.
