Overview
In addition to our year-round open calls and grants, which support emerging and established artists working in contemporary art, below is a compiled list of reputable local, regional and international open calls, opportunities and residencies for artists and art practitioners. In keeping with Sharjah Art Foundation’s commitment to supporting the community, this reference tool, updated on a regular basis, includes grants, exhibitions and educational opportunities.
Residency Program 2024
421, Abu Dhabi
Deadline: 3 December 2023
The Residency Program supports creative practitioners in the West Asia, North Africa and South Asia region interested in experimenting with social and community engagement as part of their practice.
Eligibility:
● Applicants must be over 21.
● Disciplines included, but not limited to, Visual Arts and Curation, Design and Technology, Literary Arts, Music, Culinary Arts, Theatre and Performance.
● Applicants should not be enrolled in a degree programme at the time that the residency takes place.
The residency includes:
● Private studio space.
● Living space for non-Abu Dhabi-based participants.
● One-time return travel for accepted residents not based in Abu Dhabi.
● Travel expenses.
● Stipend/per diem (AED 200–300 per day).
● Equipment and material costs (AED 4,500 total).
● Production budget of up to AED 20,000.
https://www.421.online/en/opportunities/residency-program-2024/
First Chapter: ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship
Seddiqi Holding, Dubai
Deadline: 4 December 2023
The First Chapter ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship is a year-long programme and accepted writers, or fellows, will take part in:
● Six 60-minute one-to-one mentorship sessions
● 40 hours of talks and workshops from experts spanning the whole of the industry and encompassing all stages of writing, publishing and promoting a book.
First Chapter is aimed towards writers just beginning their journey as well as serious writers who are on their way to publishing a novel (adult fiction, YA and Middle Grade), but want to elevate their work to a global standard. Applications are open to anyone who calls the United Arab Emirates home.
https://www.elfdubai.org/en/first-chapter-writers-fellowship
Open Call: Art Residency Programme 2024
Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi
Deadline: 12 December 2023
The six-month programme provides a platform for professional artists, designers, architects, writers, performers, researchers, filmmakers and other culture practitioners to advance their skills and practice through dedicated studio spaces and resources. The residency programme enables participants to produce and exhibit works within Cultural Foundation, providing unparalleled visibility and endorsement.
Artists in residence are offered:
● Dedicated studio space within Cultural Foundation
● 24-hour access to their studios
● Curatorial support
● Access to Cultural Foundation facilities
● Financial resources
https://culturalfoundation.ae/en/ArtResidency
The Arab Documentary Photography Program
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Beirut and the Prince Claus Fund, Amsterdam and Magnum Foundation, New York City
Deadline: 20 December 2023
The 10th cycle of the Arab Documentary Photography Program (ADPP) continues to support documentary photographers in the region.
This grant is open to applicants from, living and working in the Arab region, irrespective of age, years of experience, ethnicity, gender or religion. Professional and emerging photographers are eligible to apply.
ADPP provides up to eight photographers with a USD 7000 grant to work on their projects in their country of residence over a period of 10 months. The grant may be used to begin a new project or to complete work on an existing project.
In addition, grantees will benefit from mentorship and specialised workshops to help them develop and produce their projects and consider avenues for distribution.
https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/17
Anhar: Culture and Climate Platform
Art Jameel, Jeddah and the British Council, London
Deadline: 15 January 2024
Anhar: Culture and Climate Platform is a new programme which supports ambitious arts projects that engage with the climate emergency. The open call invites applications from individual artists, collectives and cultural organisations based in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The programme supports practitioners in the Arab world through awarded grants, building on findings and key priorities that emerged through the Culture and Climate Summit organised by Art Jameel and the British Council in March 2023.
https://artjameel.org/sustainability/anhar-culture-climate-platform/
Research and Practice Platform
Art Jameel, Dubai and Dubai Culture
Deadline: 15 January 2024
Aligned with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability and COP28 taking place in Dubai, Art Jameel and Dubai Culture introduce the second iteration of the Research and Practice Platform. This edition invites UAE-based individual artists, creative practitioners and small-scale collectives to submit proposals that meaningfully engage with the climate emergency. The programme awards grants of AED 3,600 (USD 1000) to AED 22,000 (USD 6000).
https://artjameel.org/sustainability/art-jameel-research-and-practice-platform/
https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/17
The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2024
New York University Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
Deadline: 31 January 2024
Under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2024 is given for the proposal and creation of an artwork that can be publicly exhibited and enjoyed. Applicants are invited to propose work in any form: photography, film, land art, sculpture, painting, illustration, multi-media. Work can be shown inside or outside.
https://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/the-christo-and-jeanne-claude-award/
The information shared here has been sourced from the online platforms of the listed institutions.