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.
Gulf Capital ADMAF Creativity Award
Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
Deadline: 5 September 2023
The Gulf Capital ADMAF Creativity Award - Performing Arts award recognises creative excellence among youth in the performing arts. Submissions are open to Emirati individuals and groups (with at least one Emirati national member) who create an outstanding performance piece in music, dance or theatre. Finalists will perform before a live audience and compete for an 20,000 AED cash prize.
https://admaf.org/initiatives/awards/
Annecy Festival Residency
Annecy Festival, France
Deadline: 10 September 2023
The Annecy Festival Residency is dedicated to animation feature films and will welcome three new projects in April 2024. For three months, residents will benefit from a working environment conducive to exploration (at The Papeteries – Image Factory), tailor-made mentoring and assistance from the CITIA teams to be able to develop their projects’ graphic universe.
https://www.annecyfestival.com/annecy-festival-residency
National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity (UAE nationals only)
The Ministry of Culture and Youth, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Deadline: 10 September 2023
The UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Youth has launched the National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity that includes a set of grants to offer support to UAE national creatives. Aimed at fostering talent and overall cultural production, the grants target creative professionals distinguished in the cultural and creative industries.
The eligible fields include: Books & Literature, Visual Arts & Design, Film & TV, Performing Arts & Theatre, Music, Video Games and Cultural Heritage.
You can apply to any of the following grant categories:
1. Creation & Production Grant (up to 100,000 AED)
2. Distribution & Local Participations Grant (up to 80,000 AED)
3. Capacity Development Grant (up to 50,000 AED)
4. International Travel & Mobility Grant (up to 50,000 AED)
These grants can be used towards developing projects or participating in opportunities that contribute to your creative, intellectual and professional growth on a local and global scale.
https://mcy.gov.ae/en/national-grant-program-for-culture-and-creativity/
12th Sikka Art and Design Festival
Dubai Culture
Deadline: 15 September 2023
The 12th edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival is being held, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and member of the Dubai Council, from 23 February to 3 March 2024. Emerging and established Emirati artists and those residing in the UAE and GCC regions are invited to participate in this exciting celebration of creativity. They can showcase their talent through various art forms, including visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design, murals, mixed media and more. Moreover, the festival will feature interactive workshops, musical and cinematic performances as well as thought-provoking talks and dialogue sessions.
https://dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/events/Sikka-2024-Open-Call
Caméra libre! Residency Programme for Foreign Filmmakers
Cité internationale des arts, Paris
Deadline: 15 September 2023
The residency welcomes foreign filmmakers who have already made at least one feature-length film that has been selected at a leading international festival, and who are developing an international feature-length film project, but are prevented from its writing, financing and/or production due to violence, censorship, persecution or political threats they face in their country.
The directors will be welcomed in residency at the Cité internationale des arts for six months. They will receive tailored support from the Citéinternationale des arts, L'usage du monde au 21e siècle and the CNC.
https://www.citedesartsparis.net/en/camera-libre_1
Bauhaus Earth Fellowship Program
Bauhaus Earth, Berlin
Deadline: 17 September 2023
This programme aims to identify new, powerful architectural languages for a sustainable built environment and to support this transformation through architectural quality and design expression.
Through collaborative practice, the fellowship projects bring together emerging actors, experts, students and local stakeholders. They aim to produce new knowledge on local, bio-based and circular building to bridge the gap between institutional research and building practice, and to contribute to the development of a powerful aesthetic for a sustainable architecture of the future.
https://www.bauhauserde.org/initiatives/be-fellowship-programm
The Ninth Edition of International Awards for Art Criticism Open Call
International Awards for Art Criticism, Shanghai and Edinburgh
Deadline: 20 September 2023
The Ninth Edition of the International Awards for Art Criticism is open to candidates from anywhere in the world writing in Chinese or English about any contemporary art exhibition held anywhere in the world or online between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. Candidates are invited to write a review of 1,500 words or 2,500 Chinese characters on any exhibition of contemporary art.
The First Prize will consist of a cash award of 10,000 Euros (pre-tax) or the RMB equivalent of this amount. Each of the three Second Prizes will be awarded a cash prize of 3,500 Euros (pre-tax) or the RMB equivalent of this amount.
http://www.iaac-m21.com/
Open Call for Proposals to Curate the National Pavilion UAE at the 19th International Architecture Biennale
The National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia, Abu Dhabi
Deadline: 24 September 2023
Architects, designers, artists, historians and researchers who have worked or studied within the UAE or the MENASA region are invited to submit proposals that reflect the Architecture Biennale’s reputation as a platform for the dissemination and exchange of ideas.
The mission of the National Pavilion UAE is to unearth and reflect on the untold stories of the UAE, to contextualise those stories within regional and international discourse and to identify contemporary developments in architectural practice.
https://nationalpavilionuae.org/open-calls/npuae-19th-international-architecture-exhibition/
The Design Market
Dubai Design Week
Deadline: 30 September 2023
Individuals and small business owners with unique and exceptional products are invited to apply to participate in Dubai Design Week’s curated outdoor market taking place 11–12 November 2023.
https://www.dubaidesignweek.ae/open-calls-2023/
Grants for Artists’ Practice
Mophradat, Brussels
Deadline: 1 October 2023
Mophradat’s Grants for Artists’ Practice programme provides grants of either 4,000 USD or 8,000 USD to approximately eight artists, who also participate in six conversations organised by Mophradat. This is in accordance with the programme’s two components, which provide artists with flexible financial support that can be used towards their livelihood, periods of research, residencies, the production of new work and curating and presenting shows. Also included are other forms of artistic work, structured dialogue between the participating artists and one-on-one dialogue with peers (from the advisory committee).
https://mophradat.org/en/program/grants-for-artists-practice/
2024 Eyebeam Fellowship Open Call
Eyebeam, New York
Deadline: 1 October 2023
Eyebeam seeks artists to explore the creative potentials of technologies that support and enhance the best of human intelligence and imagination. In particular, they are interested in supporting those artists whose efforts consider the impact of technology on individuals and communities who face additional barriers to access and inclusion.
Selected artists participating in this six-month programme will receive a $20,000 stipend and work in fellowship to support the development and implementation of their projects. International applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply. This programme is being run virtually, with the option for in-person gatherings.
https://eyebeam.org/2024-eyebeam-fellowship-open-call/
The information shared here has been sourced from the online platforms of the listed institutions.