The SAARC Cultural Centre in Colombo has announced the SAARC Research Grants 2026 under the theme “Interpreting Shared Heritage: Cross-Cultural Narratives in Museums in the SAARC Region.” The program was approved by the SAARC Cultural Centre Governing Board and endorsed by the SAARC Programming Committee.
The research initiative aims to study how museums in SAARC countries interpret and present shared cultural heritage. It focuses on the role of museums in promoting regional solidarity, preserving cross-border cultural links, and presenting inclusive narratives of South Asian history, knowledge and identity.
Academics and researchers from SAARC member states can submit detailed proposals under sub-themes such as colonial legacies and decolonization, museum collecting and curating practices, museums as cultural knowledge centres, and museums as spaces for cross-cultural dialogue. Selected researchers will receive USD 3,000 each, distributed in two installments.
Proposals must be submitted through the respective Foreign or External Affairs ministries, with an advance copy allowed by email to sccpublications@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is 10 May 2026, and the research period is expected to run from May 2026 to March 2027. Researchers who received SAARC research grants within the last five years are not eligible to apply.
