Call for participation - Travel grant for young (museum) professionals to NEMO European Museum Conference

2024 grant holder Ekin Berk Polat. ©ASTRA Museum, Silviu Popa.

Until 16 May, NEMO is inviting proposals from young (museum) professionals* based in Europe to suggest formats for its NEMO European Museum Conference ‘Who cares? Museums, wellbeing and resilience’, taking place from 26–28 October 2025 in Horsens, Denmark.

To amplify the voices of the next generation at the NEMO European Museum Conference ‘Who cares? Museums, wellbeing and resilience’, NEMO has launched a Call for Participation focused on two key themes:

Young generation, wellbeing and culture
Studies show that the happiness of younger generations is in decline worldwide, due to a combination of social, economic, technological and ecological pressures. How are these pressures impacting the mental health, agency, and future outlook of today’s youth? And how can museums respond meaningfully? How can cultural spaces become places of support, dialogue, and empowerment for younger communities, offering not only refuge, but also tools for resilience, critical thinking, and collective action?

Resilience and cultural institutions
In a time of rising pressures and limited resources, how can museums stay resilient—both as institutions and as teams? What can be strategies for sustainable structures, staff wellbeing, and long-term strength in the face of complex challenges? How can museums build resilience not only in their structures but also for the next generation of cultural workers?

To support participation, NEMO is offering five grants, each including up to €600 in travel support and free conference attendance. The opportunity supports young voices to be part of shaping the future of museums in Europe, and to connect with peers and professionals working at the intersection of culture, care, and resilience.

Interested in a grant?

Applicants are asked to submit a CV, a short video introducing themselves and their motivation to attend, and a brief abstract describing a proposed conference contribution. Contributions can be artistic or in a short presentation format—creative, critical, and fresh ideas are welcome.

*Young (museum) professionals: individuals up to 33 years old who work in the museum sector or are somehow related to the museums sector (e.g. professionals from health institutions collaborating with museums).

The conference is co-organised with Museum Horsens, Central Denmark EU Office, Danish Museums Association, and thanks to co-funding by the European Union.