“It really is astonishing that every day precisely enough happens to fit into a newspaper,” quipped Karl Valentin. An annual report gives a similar impression – as if everything that happens in the course of 12 months is just enough to fit into one publication. During a pandemic, however, the choice of topics and the duty to record events are seemingly self-evident: Hence, with this new report on its activities, the Gerda Henkel Foundation aims not least to outline the notable consequences the Corona crisis has had for academics over the past year. In addition, the report presents selected projects – from Mexico’s ancient city of Teotihuacán, which was rediscovered by the Azteks, to the Japanese rickshaw, to gender, race and sex in contemporary US history. In 2020, the Gerda Henkel Foundation provided funding worldwide to the tune of a good 16.1 million euros. A digital version of the annual report can be downloaded from https://edit.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/jb/jahresbericht2020/.

A look back reveals that, on the one hand, the restrictions on travel, access and face-to-face meetings meant that numerous project partners were unable to realize their objectives as planned. Here, the Gerda Henkel Foundation reacted by setting up an emergency COVID-19 fund. On the other hand, in spite of the most adverse conditions, many academics were able to develop new research ideas and projects: A total of 311 projects from 51 countries – from Australia to Vietnam – were approved for funding by the Gerda Henkel Foundation.

Contact details and print version
The office will be happy to provide contact details to interested parties and can mail annual reports on request.

The Gerda Henkel Foundation
The Gerda Henkel Foundation was established in June 1976 by Lisa Maskell in memory of her mother Gerda Henkel as an incorporated foundation under civil law, headquartered in Düsseldorf.The Gerda Henkel Foundation concentrates its support on the historical humanities. In some of the programmes the Foundation furthermore addresses issues of great relevance to contemporary life and the future, above all as part of its special programme “Security, Society and the State”. As part of the Lisa Maskell Fellowship programme, the Foundation supports young scholars in the humanities in both Africa and Southeast Asia. With its “Patrimonies” funding initiative it promotes the preservation of the cultural heritage, specifically in regions experiencing crisis. Research that places current challenging issues in a greater historical context form the focus of the “Democracy as Utopia, Experience and Threat” and “Lost Cities. Perception of and living with abandoned cities in the cultures of the world” funding programmes. In connection with funded projects, the Foundation also provides assistance for social support measures as part of complementary projects. The Gerda Henkel Foundation can by virtue of its statutes pursue its objectives both inside and outside Germany.

Contact:
Gerda Henkel Foundation press office
Dr Sybille Wüstemann
Telephone +49 211 93 65 24 - 19
Telefax +49 211 93 65 24 44
wuestemann@gerda-henkel-stiftung.de