The 2025 applications for the Salt Research Funds, which have been promoting projects aimed at original document acquisition and research in the fields of urban studies, society, and economy from the 19th century to the present, as well as in the fields of art, architecture, and design since 1950, are now open as of January 14.

This year, eight projects will be supported with Salt Research Funds, along with two additional funds provided by Garanti BBVA. The Garanti BBVA Economic History Fund aims to provide sustainable contributions to research in the field.

Since 2013, a total of 80 projects have been funded, focusing on studies that examine local examples reflecting social transformations through interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional perspectives, make new resources visible, or allow for the questioning of general assumptions with current findings. Content that interprets the institution’s archive collections or can be integrated into long-term research projects will be prioritized during the evaluation process.

As part of a two-phase application process, each selected research project will receive a grant of 70,000 TL. The pre-application period, which will last until 18:00 on Monday, February 17, will assess the content’s suitability in terms of topic, period, and research area. For the projects that pass this stage, the final application deadline is Monday, March 17; the results will be announced on Tuesday, April 22.

This year’s evaluation process will be carried out by the Selection Committee, which includes Dr. Özge Gençel (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University), Dr. Emre Gönlügür (Izmir University of Economics), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Karaman (Boğaziçi University), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Ozil (Sabancı University), Sezin Romi (Salt), and Lorans Tanatar Baruh (Salt). The outputs of the supported projects will be opened to public review and contributions with a presentation program to be held in December.

Applications should be prepared based on the focus areas of Salt Research:

• Art Research: This includes examining processes, individuals, institutions, exhibitions, and events that have created turning points in Turkey’s cultural environment from the 1950s to the present. It aims to read and interpret art history together with different disciplines, evaluate it in both local and international contexts, and readdress and develop existing resources.
• Architecture and Design Research: This focuses on content that goes beyond printed sources or brings unique approaches to existing resources concerning architectural practices and design approaches in post-1950s Turkey. Research can involve any scale, from design objects to the built environment.
• Urban and Society Research: This includes studies detailing social transformations in the 19th century Ottoman Empire and 20th-century Turkey, as well as urban studies.
• Economic History Research: This involves studies focusing on economic transformations in the 19th century Ottoman Empire and 20th-century Turkey. Topics may include trade networks, industrialization, financial structures, agricultural economy, capital accumulation, and integration with the global economy. Research on the social impacts of economic policies is also within the scope.

To apply, click here.

Source: Salt Online