• Expert meeting
  • Symposium

04 Mar 2026, 09:00 a.m. - 05 Mar 2026, 03:00 p.m.

Kick-Off "Open up"

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The kick-off for the funding initiative ‘Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies’  will take place on 4 and 5 March at Herrenhausen Palace.

With the kick-off event ‘Open up’, the foundation aims to provide the initiative's beneficiaries with a space at the Herrenhausen Palace Conference Centre where they can present their projects to each other, discuss them together, gain inspiration for the implementation of their research projects, and discuss questions about the possibilities, conception and implementation of radically exploratory research in the humanities and cultural sciences.

Programme
The programme will soon be available for download below.

With its funding initiativeOpen Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies’, the Volkswagen Foundation supports exploratory collaborative projects that open up new areas of research in original, unconventional ways and explore research topics that are particularly complex. 

Registration

The event is aimed at those who received funding in the third round of applications for the funding initiative ‘Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies. Please note, that registration is only possible by invitation. 

Please click here for registration.

Programme und Booklet

The programme and project descriptions will soon be available for download here.

Do you have questions about our scientific events? Check out our FAQ!

FAQ scientific events
Where do the Volkswagen Foundation events take place?

The events take place at the Herrenhausen Palace conference centre, Herrenhäuser Straße 5, 30419 Hanover (Google Maps).

How do I get to the event venue Herrenhausen Palace?
  • by public transport: tram lines 4 and 5, bus line 136: stop "Herrenhäuser Gärten" or "Schaumburgstraße".
  • by bike: There are bike racks in front of the Herrenhausen Palace conference centre. E-bike batteries should be taken into the building and not left on the bike.
  • by car: The car parks around the Herrenhausen Palace are subject to a charge. There are a few free car parks in the "Alte Herrenhäuser Straße".
  • by train: Hanover main station is excellently connected through many long-distance trains from all over Germany and in some cases from other European countries.
  • by plane: Please check whether a flight can be replaced by a train connection. Hanover Airport is directly connected to the S-Bahn network in the greater Hanover area. Please take the S5 towards Paderborn or Bad Pyrmont from the airport to get to the city center.

The entrance to the conference centre (three large wooden doors) is located on the west side of the castle, in the side wing, right next to the entrance to the restaurant "Grauwinkels Schlossküche".

How much are the fees for participating at academic events?

There are no registration fees for participating at conferences, symposia or academic workshops.

When can I check in and get my name tag at the venue?

You can check in 60 minutes before the event begins.

Is the venue barrier-free?

The Herrenhausen Palace conference centre is barrier-free.

Are the academic events recorded or broadcast live (streaming)?

As a rule, academic events are not recorded or broadcast live (streaming) in order to enable the participants to talk about research results that have not yet been published and to obtain corresponding feedback.

I wish to attend an academic event as member of the audience. Who will cover my travel and accommodation costs and do the necessary bookings?

The participants bear the costs for travel and accommodation themselves. We ask all participants without an active part to take care of their own hotel and travel arrangements. If we provide a contingent of rooms at a specific hotel, you will find more information on the respective event pages.

I am a speaker, chair, or travel grantee at an academic event. Who will cover my travel and accommodation costs and do the necessary bookings?

Please get in touch with the respective contact person for the event. You can find the contact details on the website for the event.

Are food preferences and/or intolerances taken care of?

They are usually taken care of. Please indicate your preferences when registering for the event. Catering/Meals at Volkswagen Foundation events are all vegetarian with several vegan options.

Is there a cloakroom?

At Volkswagen Foundation events held at the Herrenhausen Palace conference centre, you are welcome to use our cloakroom free of charge.

I lost or forgot something at an event at the Herrenhausen Palace conference centre, whom can I contact?

Please contact Schloss Herrenhausen Veranstaltungs- und Betriebs GmbH at: +49 511-763 744-0

Who can I contact if I have further questions?

If you have any questions, you can reach our hotline from Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at +59 511 8381-200

If you have any further questions, please contact

Illustration of three people with rucksacks looking down a road towards a mountain

Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies (completed)

The funding initiative aims at exploring new research spaces in the humanities and cultural sciences. 

To funding offer