Deadline: 09-Jul-2026
The Exhibition Support Grant provides funding to not-for-profit institutions and organisations across Europe to develop professional, innovative, and engaging exhibitions on Jewish history and Jewish cultural heritage. Grants can cover up to 70% of the total project budget, with funding available for core museum exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, travelling exhibitions, research, planning, conservation, exhibition design, digital resources, publications, and public engagement. Eligible applicants include museums, universities, libraries, archives, heritage organisations, cultural institutions, and other not-for-profit professional bodies based in eligible European countries.
Overview
The Exhibition Support Grant supports institutions and organisations across Europe that are developing exhibitions related to Jewish history, Jewish culture, and Jewish heritage.
The grant is designed to help organisations create high-quality exhibitions based on Jewish objects, collections, narratives, and cultural materials.
Funding can support both new exhibition development and the improvement or adaptation of existing exhibitions.
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of the Exhibition Support Grant is to strengthen public access to Jewish history and cultural heritage through professional exhibition projects.
The grant helps organisations research, conserve, interpret, design, and present Jewish collections in ways that engage diverse audiences.
It supports exhibitions that are historically grounded, professionally developed, visually engaging, and accessible to the public.
Key Focus Areas
The grant focuses on Jewish history, Jewish cultural heritage, museum exhibitions, core exhibitions, permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, travelling exhibitions, exhibition research, curatorial development, conservation, collection interpretation, exhibition design, digital resources, printed publications, translation, public engagement, youth participation, local community engagement, and audience development across Europe.
What the Grant Supports
The Exhibition Support Grant supports a wide range of exhibition-related activities.
Eligible activities may include:
- Core museum exhibition development
- Revamping existing permanent exhibitions
- Temporary exhibition development
- Renting and adapting travelling exhibitions
- Preliminary research and planning
- Exhibition narrative development
- Object selection
- Curatorial work
- Conservation and stabilisation of materials
- Staff salaries for project-related work
- Specialist equipment purchases
- Exhibition design and construction
- Loan costs
- Transportation and insurance
- Translation and adaptation of exhibitions
- Printed catalogues and publications
- Digital exhibitions and applications
- Public engagement activities
- Programmes for young people and local communities
Projects should clearly relate to Jewish objects, collections, history, or cultural heritage.
Funding Percentage
The grant may cover up to 70% of the total project budget.
Applications requesting more than 70% of total project costs are not eligible.
Applicants must show how the remaining project costs will be covered through other funding sources, organisational contributions, or partner support.
Funding for Core Museum Exhibitions
Museums may apply for funding to develop new core exhibitions or revamp existing permanent exhibitions.
Funding of up to £75,000 per year is available for a maximum of three years.
This means core exhibition projects may receive up to £225,000 in total.
Eligible costs for core exhibitions may include:
- Research
- Planning
- Professional consultation
- Curatorial activities
- Exhibition design
- Specialist equipment
- Conservation work
- Exhibition construction
- Public engagement activities
Funding for Temporary Exhibitions
Temporary exhibitions may receive funding of up to £75,000.
These projects should explore Jewish history, Jewish culture, or Jewish heritage through strong curatorial concepts and public presentation.
Eligible costs may include:
- Preliminary research
- Exhibition development
- Curatorial work
- Equipment purchases
- Exhibition design
- Exhibition installation
- Loan-related costs
- Borrowing items from other institutions
- Publications
- Digital resources
- Public programming
Preference is given to temporary exhibitions that are not solely panel-based and that have potential to travel.
Funding for Travelling Exhibitions
Institutions may apply for grants of up to £75,000 to rent and adapt travelling exhibitions of Jewish interest from other European organisations.
Eligible costs may include:
- Exhibition rental fees
- Transportation
- Insurance
- Translation
- Staff visits
- Exhibition adaptation
- Installation-related costs
- Public engagement linked to the travelling exhibition
This funding stream does not support exhibitions originating from institutions located in Israel or North America.
Research and Planning Support
The grant can support research and planning that contributes to exhibition development.
This may include:
- Creating exhibition narratives
- Selecting objects
- Developing curatorial concepts
- Preparing project workplans
- Conducting collection research
- Consulting specialists
- Planning exhibition interpretation
- Developing audience engagement strategies
Research and planning should be directly connected to a future exhibition project.
Conservation and Collection Preparation
Funding may support conservation work needed to prepare materials for exhibition display.
This may include stabilising fragile objects, preparing items for safe display, and ensuring that collection materials can be exhibited responsibly.
Conservation activities should be connected to the exhibition’s object list, display needs, and public interpretation goals.
Digital and Public Engagement Support
The grant may support digital resources and public engagement activities that promote exhibitions and connect with audiences.
Eligible activities may include:
- Digital exhibitions
- Exhibition-related applications
- Online interpretation tools
- Public talks
- Workshops
- Community programmes
- Youth engagement activities
- Local audience outreach
- Educational materials
- Visitor participation activities
Public engagement should help broaden access to Jewish history and cultural heritage.
What the Grant Does Not Support
The grant does not support:
- Building renovations
- Construction of new buildings
- General operational expenses
- Acquisition of objects
- Applications requesting more than 70% of total project costs
- Travelling exhibitions originating from institutions in Israel or North America
- Projects without a clear Jewish history or Jewish cultural heritage focus
Applicants should ensure that all requested costs are directly connected to exhibition development or delivery.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit institutions and professional bodies operating on a not-for-profit basis.
Eligible organisations may include:
- Museums
- Universities
- Libraries
- Archives
- Heritage organisations
- Cultural institutions
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Other professional bodies working with exhibitions, collections, or heritage
Applicants must be based in eligible European countries.
Eligible Countries
Applications are accepted from organisations based in European countries, including both EU and non-EU states.
However, organisations based in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are not eligible.
Applicants must provide evidence of their charitable, non-profit, or not-for-profit status as required by the programme guidelines.
Why It Matters
Jewish history and cultural heritage are an important part of Europe’s social, cultural, religious, and historical landscape.
Many institutions hold Jewish collections, archives, objects, documents, artworks, photographs, and cultural materials that need research, conservation, interpretation, and public presentation.
This grant matters because it helps organisations create exhibitions that preserve memory, improve public understanding, support education, and connect diverse audiences with Jewish heritage.
By supporting professional exhibition development, the grant helps make Jewish cultural history more visible, accessible, and engaging.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the exhibition concept, project budget, public value, and connection to Jewish history or cultural heritage.
Step 1: Choose the Right Exhibition Type
Applicants should identify the most relevant funding stream.
The project may be:
- A core museum exhibition
- A revamp of a permanent exhibition
- A temporary exhibition
- A travelling exhibition rental and adaptation
- Research and planning for a future exhibition
- Conservation or preparation work linked to exhibition display
Step 2: Define the Exhibition Concept
The application should clearly explain the exhibition idea.
Applicants should describe:
- The exhibition theme
- The Jewish history or heritage focus
- The objects or collections involved
- The story or narrative being presented
- The intended audience
- The public value of the exhibition
- The expected visitor experience
Step 3: Explain the Collections and Objects
Applicants should show how Jewish objects, archives, collections, or cultural materials will form the basis of the exhibition.
This section should explain:
- What materials will be displayed
- Why they are significant
- Whether conservation is needed
- Whether loans are required
- How the materials support the exhibition narrative
Step 4: Prepare the Project Plan
The project plan should show how the exhibition will be developed and delivered.
It should include:
- Research activities
- Curatorial work
- Design and construction plans
- Conservation needs
- Staffing requirements
- Loan arrangements
- Translation or adaptation needs
- Digital resources
- Public engagement activities
- Timeline and milestones
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
The budget must show the total project cost and the amount requested from the grant.
Applicants should ensure that the grant request does not exceed 70% of the total project budget.
The budget should clearly identify other funding sources or contributions that will cover the remaining costs.
Step 6: Confirm Eligible Costs
Applicants should make sure the budget does not include ineligible costs.
The grant should not be requested for building renovations, new building construction, general operations, or acquisition of objects.
All requested costs should directly support exhibition development, delivery, interpretation, or public engagement.
Step 7: Provide Organisational Status Evidence
Applicants must provide evidence of charitable, non-profit, or not-for-profit status.
The required evidence should match the programme guidelines and the applicant’s country of registration.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit the complete application with the exhibition proposal, project plan, budget, organisational evidence, and any required supporting documents.
A strong application should be clear, well-costed, audience-focused, and directly connected to Jewish history or cultural heritage.
Assessment Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on quality, relevance, feasibility, and public value.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Strength of the exhibition concept
- Relevance to Jewish history or Jewish cultural heritage
- Quality of curatorial planning
- Importance of the objects or collections
- Professionalism of exhibition design and delivery
- Strength of public engagement plans
- Benefit to diverse audiences
- Feasibility of the budget and timeline
- Ability to secure remaining project funding
- Potential for travel or wider reach
- Conservation or preservation value
- Organisational capacity to deliver the project
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show why the exhibition matters and how it will engage the public.
Applicants should:
- Present a clear Jewish heritage focus
- Use collections and objects meaningfully
- Explain the exhibition narrative
- Show professional curatorial planning
- Include a realistic budget within the 70% funding limit
- Demonstrate confirmed or likely match funding
- Include strong public engagement plans
- Show how young people and local communities will be reached
- Avoid purely panel-based formats where possible
- Explain the potential for travelling or wider audience access
- Ensure all costs are eligible and directly linked to the exhibition
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting proposals that are incomplete, over-budget, or weakly connected to Jewish heritage.
Common mistakes include:
- Requesting more than 70% of total project costs
- Including building renovations or construction costs
- Requesting funding to acquire objects
- Submitting a general cultural project without a clear Jewish history focus
- Providing a weak exhibition narrative
- Not identifying the objects or collections involved
- Missing conservation or loan cost details
- Providing an unclear budget
- Not showing how remaining costs will be covered
- Submitting a temporary exhibition that is only panel-based without strong justification
- Applying for a travelling exhibition from Israel or North America under the travelling exhibition stream
- Not providing evidence of non-profit or charitable status
FAQ
1. What is the Exhibition Support Grant?
The Exhibition Support Grant funds institutions and organisations in Europe to develop exhibitions related to Jewish history and Jewish cultural heritage.
2. Who can apply?
Museums, universities, libraries, archives, heritage organisations, cultural institutions, not-for-profit organisations, and other professional not-for-profit bodies in eligible European countries can apply.
3. How much of the project budget can the grant cover?
The grant can cover up to 70% of the total project budget. Applications requesting more than 70% are not eligible.
4. How much funding is available for core museum exhibitions?
Core museum exhibitions may receive up to £75,000 per year for a maximum of three years, allowing a total grant of up to £225,000.
5. How much funding is available for temporary exhibitions?
Temporary exhibitions may receive funding of up to £75,000.
6. Can organisations apply to rent travelling exhibitions?
Yes. Organisations may apply for up to £75,000 to rent and adapt travelling exhibitions of Jewish interest from other European institutions. Exhibitions originating from Israel or North America are excluded from this funding stream.
7. What costs are not eligible?
The grant does not support building renovations, construction of new buildings, operational expenses, acquisition of objects, or applications requesting more than 70% of total project costs.
Conclusion
The Exhibition Support Grant provides major support for European institutions and not-for-profit organisations developing exhibitions on Jewish history and Jewish cultural heritage. By funding core museum exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, travelling exhibitions, research, conservation, design, digital resources, publications, and public engagement, the grant helps organisations create meaningful and accessible cultural experiences. Applicants should submit a clear exhibition concept, strong curatorial plan, realistic budget within the 70% funding limit, and evidence of their not-for-profit status.
For more information, visit Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe.