Country-Specific scholarship in support of Nepal's Indigenous Communities cultural property
Cultural Property Protection Focus
These scholarships to ARCA’s Postgraduate Certifications emphasize the tracing and restitution of indigenous cultural heritage.
Skill Development
Scholarship awardees gain advanced skills in art crime analysis, provenance researcher and cultural heritage risk management
Community Impact
Against a backdrop of loss and weakened institutional capacity, Nepal’s Indigenous communities remain the last and most vital custodians of the nation’s historical memory. By documenting oral testimonies of indigenous community members, archiving temple photographs and local shrine inventories, we can begin to explore the surviving evidence which is of critical importance for documenting Nepal’s past.
About ARCA's 2026 Nepal Scholarships
Nepal’s movable cultural heritage remains highly vulnerable to theft, illicit trafficking, and undocumented loss. In response to these ongoing threats, ARCA will fund a limited number of highly competitive, full-tuition scholarships for individuals actively engaged in Nepal’s cultural heritage protection sector.
These scholarships form part of a broader initiative aligned with two complementary grant-funded projects focused on strengthening community-based evidence collection, documentation, legal advocacy, and digital heritage archival management relating to at-risk and stolen cultural property in Nepal.
Successful applicants will be awarded full scholarships covering all tuition and programme fees required to participate in ARCA’s 2026 Postgraduate Certificate Programmes in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage Protection, to be held in Amelia, Italy, from 22 May through 27 July 2026, subject to Schengen visa approval.
This intensive training programme is designed to cultivate a new generation of culturally grounded practitioners capable of bridging community engagement, research, advocacy, storytelling, and object identification and documentation. The objective is to equip participants with the specialised knowledge and practical tools necessary to contribute meaningfully to the protection, identification, and recovery of Nepal’s sacred objects, ritual artworks, and locally stewarded religious heritage.
Selected scholars will receive advanced instruction in art law, open-source intelligence gathering, art crime analysis, provenance research, cultural property documentation, and risk assessment, as part of ARCA’s internationally recognised postgraduate training programme.
Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following:
• Experience in heritage-focused academic or field-based research
• Experience in community-led documentation, evidence gathering, or photographic recording
• Demonstrated ability in visual or written storytelling within community or institutional contexts
• Active engagement in advocacy within Nepal’s indigenous or heritage communities
• Foundational knowledge or interest in provenance research
By integrating technical training with existing creative, investigative, and community-based practices, this scholarship programme seeks to strengthen local expertise and amplify the voices of those working to safeguard Nepal’s cultural heritage.
Due to the late allocation of scholarship funding and the time required for Schengen visa processing, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to request application materials no later than 7 April 2026 by writing to us at: education@artcrimresearch.org
Completed applications must be submitted by 15 April 2026.
Applicants should note that these deadlines are firm, and early submission is highly recommended to ensure sufficient time for review.
Eligibility Criteria
Scholarship Requirements
Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following:
• Experience in heritage-focused academic or field-based research
• Experience in community-led documentation, evidence gathering, or photographic recording
• Demonstrated ability in visual or written storytelling within community or institutional contexts
• Active engagement in advocacy within Nepal’s indigenous or heritage communities
• Foundational knowledge or interest in provenance research
Common Inquiries About the Scholarship
Find answers to the most common questions about the application process, eligibility, and benefits of the scholarship.
Who is eligible to apply for the scholarship?
Applicants must be citizens of Nepal, preferably from one or more of Nepal’s 59 distinct indigenous communities under the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities Act of 2002 or have a background in law.
What documents are required for the application?
Required documents include a completed application form, a CV or resume, proof of citizenship, a valid passport, academic transcripts, and two letters of reference.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 15 April 2026. Ensure all materials are submitted by this date to be considered.
What does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship covers tuition fees, round trip travel expenses, and lodging in a shared apartment during the training period. Day to day living expenses and travel inside Italy are the applicant’s own responsibility.
Where do I request an application form?
Write to us no later than 7 April 2026 at: education@artcrimresearch.org