Museum professionals looking to lead digital transformation in their institutions now have a high-impact international fellowship opportunity to apply for. The Research Fellowships in Digital Leadership 2026–2027, launched by ICOM IMREC, invite museum executives and senior professionals from around the world to submit proposals for innovative digital projects that can reshape museum practice and engagement in the digital era.
This global fellowship programme is designed to strengthen research-driven digital strategies within museums while building a new generation of digital leaders who can collaborate across borders. For the 2026–2027 cycle, 10 research fellowships will be awarded to qualified museum professionals ready to implement forward-thinking digital initiatives within their institutions.
Offerings and Benefits of the Digital Leadership Research Fellowship
Selected fellows will receive a comprehensive leadership and research development experience designed to accelerate digital innovation within museums.
- Collaboration with internationally recognized experts in digital heritage and museum innovation
- Opportunity to design and implement an innovative digital transformation project in your museum
- One-to-one mentoring sessions with experienced global scholar-practitioners
- Paid travel to Shanghai and Suzhou to present project outcomes in 2027
- Participation in high-level international knowledge exchange and networking
- Certificate of completion from ICOM IMREC
- Opportunity to publish and disseminate project results through ICOM IMREC digital platforms
- Access to structured workshops on digital leadership, ethics, strategy, engagement, and best practices
Eligibility Required to Apply
This fellowship targets senior museum professionals with leadership capacity and a clear digital vision for their institutions.
- Must be English-speaking CEOs, directors, or senior managers of medium-to-large museums
- Applicants must have a digital project currently in preparation at an early stage
- Project must be feasible, institutionally supported, and aligned with museum scale
- Must hold individual ICOM membership or work for an institution with ICOM membership
- Project should contribute to digital transformation or digital maturity within the museum sector
- Applicants must secure institutional approval and financial support for the project
- Must submit required documents including CV, project proposal, institutional support letter, reference, and cover letter
- Selection will consider digital experience, leadership role, and project alignment with programme goals
Apply: https://icom.museum/en/news/call-for-proposals-research-fellowships-in-digital-leadership-2026-2027/
Last Date to Apply
The last date to apply for the Research Fellowships in Digital Leadership 2026–2027 offered by ICOM IMREC is 31 March 2026.