Along with announcements of our year-round open calls and grants which support emerging and established artists working in contemporary art, Sharjah Art Foundation has compiled a list of reputable local, regional and international open calls, educational opportunities, grants and residencies in other institutions. In keeping with the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the art community, this reference tool is updated on a regular basis.
Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency
Diriyah Art Futures, Riyadh
Deadline: 20 January 2025
The Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency offers established artists and scholars an inspiring retreat to explore the intersections of art, technology and cultural heritage.
The residency provides participants with access to cutting-edge studios, production labs and mentorship, along with a production budget to bring their work to life. The residency theme, High-Resolution Dreams of Sand, encourages reflections on the interplay between tradition and modernity, inviting participants to explore connections between nature, technology and humanity.
https://daf.moc.gov.sa/en/blog/diriyah-art-futures-launches-inaugural-mazraah-media-art-residency
The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2025
The Art Gallery at NYU Abu Dhabi
Deadline: 31 January 2025
The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award promotes artists at the beginning of their careers; it offers them an opportunity to receive a new commission and be professionally supported in the realisation of that work to the point of public exhibition.
Applicants must be a resident of the UAE. They may have graduated from a university or college within the last five years, or be a full-time degree student enrolled at a university or college in the UAE
The winning work will be exhibited at Abu Dhabi Art, NYU Abu Dhabi and Umm El Emarat Park in November/December 2025.
https://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/award-application-guidelines/
Writing Sabbaticals Open Call
Mophradat, Brussels
Deadline: 1 February 2025
Mophradat is supporting emerging creative writers from the Arab world working in contemporary fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Published writers currently working on a new text for publication and who need time to focus on its completion can apply to this programme. Each participant will receive a stipend to allow them to take time out from their daily preoccupations and complete their project.
https://mophradat.org/en/program/writing-sabbaticals/
Art Time Residencies: Performance
Mophradat, Brussels
Deadline: 1 February 2025
Mophradat has partnered once more with Kunstencentrum BUDA and NEXT festival in Belgium to offer a three-week residency for a performing artist to finalise a new performance using BUDA’s facilities and artistic support, and premiere their work at NEXT festival at the conclusion of the residency.
https://mophradat.org/en/program/art-time-residencies/performance/
Sharjah Film Platform Feature Fund
Sharjah Art Foundation
Deadline: 28 February 2025
The Sharjah Film Platform Feature Fund is offering one UAE-based scriptwriter, director or lead/executive producer the opportunity to receive a grant of up to 500,000 AED. The Fund will support the completion of an English- or Arabic-language feature-length narrative film currently under production.
https://www.sharjahart.org/en/news/details/open-call-for-the-sharjah-film-platform-feature-fund
Visual Arts Grant
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Beirut
Deadline: 4 April 2025
AFAC’s Visual Arts grant supports the production and exhibition of painting, sculpture, photography, installations, video and sound art, art publications and multimedia works.
The Visual Arts grant programme provides annual grants of up to 20,000 USD for individuals and teams, and up to 35,000 USD for collectives and institutions.
https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/22
Performing Arts Grant
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Beirut
Deadline: 4 April 2025
AFAC’s Performing Arts grant supports the production and distribution of classical, folk and contemporary forms of theatre and dance performances for all age groups. The grant also supports public and site-specific interventions, performance art and festivals as well as training and workshops in playwriting, acting, directing, dancing and choreography.
The Performing Arts grant programme provides annual grants of up to 25,000 USD or individuals and teams, and up to 35,000 USD for collectives and institutions.
https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/23
Creative and Critical Writings Open Call
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Beirut
Deadline: 4 April 2025
AFAC’s Creative and Critical Writings grant provides support to critical arts and culture writing, children’s and youth literature (including both adaptation and original work), graphic novels, short stories and poetry, in addition to analogue and digital publishing platforms. The final product must be in Arabic.
The Creative and Critical Writings grant programme provides annual grants of up to 20,000 USD for individuals and teams, and up to 35,000 USD for collectives and institutions.
https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/14
Documentary Film Program
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Beirut
Deadline: 4 Apr 2025
The Documentary Film Program supports creative documentary films in the Arab region. The program welcomes submissions by Arab directors of feature-length documentary film projects that are in development, production or post-production phases as well as short and medium-length documentaries in production and post-production.
https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/7
The information shared here has been sourced from the online platforms of the listed institutions.