OPEN CALL FOR RESEARCH ON THE WORK OF M. K. ČIURLIONIS

for the position of Researcher in the M. K. Čiurlionis Collections Department at the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art

1. Purpose of the Call

The M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art invites researchers, scholars, and doctoral students in art history, art research, musicology, and other fields related to the study of M. K. Čiurlionis’ oeuvre to submit applications to conduct scholarly or artistic research into M. K. Čiurlionis’ creative legacy.

For the first time, the Museum is establishing a position of a dedicated researcher within the M. K. Čiurlionis Collections Department, with the aim of developing the Museum as an active centre for M. K. Čiurlionis research, encouraging new research and interpretations of his work, and increasing the volume and international dissemination of the scholarly output produced by the Museum.

Researchers will have the opportunity to work with M. K. Čiurlionis’ creative legacy preserved in the Museum’s collections, including paintings, drawings, sketches, postcards, musical manuscripts, letters, photographs, and other collection and archival materials relevant to their research topic.   

2. Who Can Apply

Applications are invited from art historians and art researchers, musicologists, and researchers in other fields of the humanities, provided that their proposed research is directly related to the work of M. K. Čiurlionis or to his legacy preserved by the Museum. Art doctoral students conducting artistic research are also eligible to apply.

The call is open to researchers from Lithuania and abroad.

Projects proposing new research aspects/questions, methodological approaches, interdisciplinary connections, or new interpretations of sources held by the Museum are particularly welcome.

3. Candidate Requirements

• A university degree or equivalent qualification in art history, art theory, musicology, or another field of the humanities relevant to the research topic.
• Experience in conducting scholarly or applied research in the fields of culture, art, heritage, or related areas.
• The ability to independently plan and conduct research, including formulating the research problem and objectives, selecting appropriate methods, developing a work plan, and working towards the intended outcomes.
• The ability to work with museum collections, archival, iconographic, musical, and other primary sources.
• The ability to analyze, organize, and synthesize information; prepare scholarly and other professional texts; and present research findings professionally.
• Good command of Lithuanian and/or English; proficiency in English sufficient for working with academic sources and presenting research findings.
• Knowledge of cultural heritage, museum practices, and copyright regulations would be an advantage.

4. Researcher’s Activities and Commitments

• To carry out the scholarly or artistic research project approved through the selection process.
• To study the creative legacy of M. K. Čiurlionis held by the Museum and materials related to the selected research topic; to analyze, organize, and interpret the sources collected during the research.
• To collaborate with specialists from the M. K. Čiurlionis Collections Department and other Museum staff.
• To prepare the outcome envisaged in the research project and present the results of the research conducted to the Museum community and, as agreed, to academic, artistic, or wider public.
• To comply with the requirements governing the protection and use of museum collections, copyright, data use, and academic citation.
• To present the research findings and resulting scholarly or artistic research output to the public as a researcher of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, identifying the Museum as the institutional affiliation and acknowledging the connection with the research conducted at the Museum and the Museum collections used.

5. Research Output

In their application, candidates must clearly define the specific output they commit to producing during the proposed period of employment.

Possible outputs include:

• a research article prepared for publication in a peer-reviewed journal;
• a conference presentation and a publication or text prepared on the basis of the presentation;

• a scholarly study or part thereof;
• research contributing significantly to the scholarly study of the Museum’s collections;
• an artwork based on artistic research, an artistic or curatorial project, together with research documentation;
• any other clearly defined scholarly or artistic research output, agreed upon with the Museum.

Priority is given to projects whose outcomes contribute not only to the researcher’s individual professional development, but also to the advancement of new insights into the work of M. K. Čiurlionis, the study of the museum’s collections, and their scholarly and public dissemination.

6. Form, Duration and Remuneration

A total of 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) is available for the researcher position in the M. K. Čiurlionis Collections Department.

Depending on the scope of the selected projects, one or several researchers may be employed simultaneously, with the available FTE divided among them. The combined workload may not exceed 1.0 FTE during any given period.

Fixed-term employment contracts will be concluded with the selected researchers. The duration of the contract and the workload will be determined based on the scope of the research, the work plan, and the expected outcomes.

In their application, candidates must justify for the proposed duration of the research and their preferred workload.

The gross monthly salary is EUR 2283–2697 (The salary offered will be determined based on the candidate's professional experience, competencies, education, and other relevant qualifications and criteria)

7. What We Offer

• The opportunity to independently carry out your research project and work with unique and significant cultural heritage sources and collections held by the museum.
• The opportunity to collaborate with professionals in the fields of art, cultural heritage, and museology, and to contribute through your research to the study and promotion of M. K. Čiurlionis’ work in Lithuania and internationally.
• Free admission to the museum’s exhibitions and events.
• A professional environment that values initiative, independence, and new ideas.

8. Application Structure

Applications may be submitted in Lithuanian or English. The recommended length of the application is up to 4 pages, excluding the CV and appendices.

1. Research title.
2. Research summary – up to 1,000 characters.
3. Research problem and relevance – explain what new question, perspective, or knowledge the proposed research may contribute to the study of M. K. Čiurlionis’ work.
4. Research object and sources – indicate which collections, artworks, documents, or other materials held by the museum you plan to work with.
5. Research methodology – briefly describe the research methods to be employed.
6. Work plan and timeline – outline the main stages of the research, the proposed duration, and the preferred workload.
7. Expected result – specify the intended outcome and the planned format for its submission, publication, or presentation.
8. Dissemination of results – where applicable, indicate the planned publication, conference, artistic presentation platform, or other form of dissemination.

The application must be accompanied by:

• a curriculum vitae (CV);
• a list of the most relevant publications, research papers, artistic research projects, or creative projects related to the proposed research, together with links to them;
• in the case of artistic research, a link to a portfolio or other relevant creative materials.

9. Evaluation of Applications

Applications will be evaluated by an expert committee established by the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art. The committee will include Museum specialists holding academic degrees, experts in M. K. Čiurlionis’ collections, and the Museum administration representatives. Depending on the nature of the applications, additional Museum specialists with relevant expertise may be involved in the evaluation process.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Evaluation criterion	Points
Scientific value and originality of the research idea and artistic investigation	0–25
The significance of the research for the understanding and/or new interpretation of M. K. Čiurlionis’ work	0–20
Connection with the collections held at the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art and the rationale for their use	0–20
Justification of the research methodology, work plan, and expected outcomes	0–15
The candidate’s competence and experience relevant to conducting the proposed research	0–10
The potential for the scholarly, artistic, and/or public dissemination of the expected outcomes	0–10
Total	100

Projects receiving at least 70 points may be selected for implementation under the programme.

A high evaluation score does not in itself guarantee the allocation of the specific workload requested. Taking into account the evaluation of the projects, their scope, and the overall limit of 1.0 FTE, the Committee may propose a different workload and/or research period to the candidate.

10. Selection Results and Commitments

The Museum will individually agree with the selected candidates on:

• the research period;
• the workload;
• the specific expected outcome.
• the conditions for working with the museum’s collections;
• the deadlines for submitting and disseminating the research outcomes.

Any scholarly or artistic research output produced during the research period must acknowledge its connection with research conducted at the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art and the museum collections used.

11. Submission of Applications

Applications may be submitted in Lithuanian or English by email no later than 15 December 2026, inclusive, to personalas@ciurlionis.lt, with the subject line “M. K. Čiurlionis Research Programme”.

The selection results are expected to be announced and candidates notified individually by 8 January 2027.

Research commencement: early 2027; the specific timeframe will be agreed upon individually.

Administrative questions regarding the employment contract and workload: Jurgita Kliminskienė, Human Resources Manager personalas@ciurlionis.lt