A Way to Read the East

What happens when the study of the East moves beyond theory and into real research spaces? This is exactly what fellows explored as part of the InteRussia Fellowship in Oriental Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences — working with archives, museums, and academic experts.

What did it look like in reality?

Under the guidance of scholars from the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, fellows developed their own research projects, working directly with primary sources and visiting archives.

At the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts in St. Petersburg, fellows worked with rare texts, focusing on how knowledge is preserved and studied.

At the State Historical Museum, they traced how cultures and empires evolved over time. The Russian State Library became a working space for independent study, while at the State Museum of Oriental Art fellows explored culture.

At the Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum, fellows moved through vast collections, encountering entire histories through artworks.

By the end of the program, the experience came together as a continuous process shaped by research, place, and direct engagement with sources and collections.

And if you want to see how this journey unfolds in practice — learn more now.

The InteRussia fellowship in Oriental Studies is implemented by the Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation in cooperation with the Gorchakov Fund and Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences with grant support from the Presidential Grants Foundation.

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