Opportunities

A page of more or less local competitions, open calls, residencies and other opportunities open to the Gulf’s creative community

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Open call: Abwab

ART / DESIGN / ARCHTECTURE

DEADLINE 20 July 2025
Apply for AED 180,000 award to design and build a pavilion installation for Dubai Design Week (4-9 Nov) that highlights ornament

  • Abwab (‘doors’) is Dubai Design Week’s commission for an al fresco pavilion to be installed at DDW, 4–9 Nov in d3
  • Open to “designers, architects, researchers, archivists and all creative practitioners”
  • 2025’s theme is ‘In the Details’, inviting proposals that explore ornamental details – “drawing from architectural research, textiles, applied surfaces and narrative-driven aesthetics … ‘In the Details’ is a call for cultural excavation, spotlighting ornamentation’s enduring relationship to history, heritage and identity”
  • Designers are encouraged to explore colour as a language of cultural continuity expressed through pigment or pattern that carries symbolic significance and to engage historical forms, motifs and textures through design. “We seek works that engage with symbolic detail in concept and scale the intimate into the monumental”
  • At least one winner, but could be more at the organiser’s discretion (though experience suggests it’s unlikely that more than one award will be made)
  • Each winner gets a production bursary of AED 180,000 to cover project development, production and installation
  • Apply with basic info plus …
    – Proposal concept statement
    – Any relevant research, photography, documentation, video file, material pieces
    – Proposed exhibition display or installation within the exhibition
    – Portfolio of previous works
    – CV
    – Approximate budget for production and installation
    – Dimensions, spatial and technical requirements
    – Timeline for completion
    – Post-installation proposals
  • Selection by “a committee of experts in the design field”
  • Proposal must …
    – Demonstrate relationship to the theme
    – Exhibit contemporary design with relevance to the Global South
    – Take a responsible design approach (eg sustainable use of materials and processes in production, construction, installation, operation)
    – Be suitable for year-round outdoor use in Dubai
    – Not exceed loading of 350kg per m2
    – Be at least partly produced in the UAE
    – Be ready for the opening of Dubai Design Week (4 Nov 2025)
  • Multiple proposals can be made “subject to each proposal not being similar in nature of concept”
  • All IP remains with the proposer, but the built prototype will be owned by the organisers
  • Organisers get the usual “worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual and royalty-free licence to use, display, publish, disseminate the materials submitted in the proposal” for promotional purposes
  • Queries to submissions@dubaidesignweek.ae
  • No entry fee
  • None specified
  • At least one winner (possibly more) gets an award of AED 180,000 to cover design, production, installation
  • Public exhibition during DDW and beyond
  • Promotional exposure via DDW

Open call: PARA

ART WRITiNG

DEADLINE 20 July 2025
Apply to fellowship programme for art writers, contribute to two publications: five places available

  • Fellowship programme supporting the development and publication of new critical writing about contemporary art, operated by Sharjah Art Foundation in collaboration with Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, Asia Art Archive, and Contemporary And (C&)
  • Programme seeks to “interrogate established approaches to art criticism … PARA foregrounds situated practices that attend to diverse forms of criticality” and “engages fellows in collective discussions informed by histories and specificities in the region that also contribute to ongoing conversations about art and criticism internationally”. It will result in a two publications:
    1. compilation inc applicants’ submissions
    2. anthology of work produced during the fellowship)
  • Aimed at “emerging and mid-career art writers” living and working in Asia and Africa, which ncludes Gulf (elsewhere eligibility is described more broadly as “cultural practitioners, including but not limited to writers, artists, curators, journalists and academics”
  • Five successful applicants will get “material, communal and institutional support” to …
    – publish two pieces of art criticism, one pre-pared and one generated during rhe felowship (total fee of AED 5,000 provided)
    – take part in biweekly online seminars and tailored feedback sessions inc mentorship sessions with five established art critics
    – attend a fully funded one-week programme of visits and peer-led gatherings in Sharjah (flights, visa, accommodation, per diem expenses covered)
    – develop relationships with fellow writers, editors, publishers and academics, “fostering collaborative and transnational networks”
  • Participation in all components of the programme (online sessions, in-person residency, etc) is mandatory
  • Apply via online form with basic details plus …
    – statement of how the programme could contribute to your practice (1500 chars max)
    – statement outlining some of the key issues that drive your writing right now (1500 chars max)
    – primary text as attachment: one new, unpublished piece of writing (1000 words max, doc or pdf, responding to an artwork or exhibition you saw in the year 2024–2025). This will be considered for publication in the compilation of new art criticism
    – two published samples of writing as attachments (each 1000 words max, as a single doc or pdf)
    – CV (2 pages max, doc or pdf)
  • Submitted texts should …
    – offer “insightful and expansive perspectives” on contemporary art
    – communicate clearly
    – demonstrate knowledge of subject and context
  • Timeline:
    – 20 Jul 2025 application deadline
    – 25 Sep 2025 announcement of selected fellows
    – Sep–Dec 2025 preparation of the compilation
    – Jan–Jun 2026 online sessions
    – Mar 2026 in-person residency in Sharjah, publication of compilation
    – Jun-Aug 2026 online seminars, feedback sessions, development of new writing for anthology
    – Nov 2026 anthology published
  • No entry fee
  • Live and work in Africa or Asia (includes Gulf)
  • Professional development, networking
  • Mentorship sessions with five established art critics
  • Fee of AED 2,000 for inclusion of text in the compilation
  • Fee of AED 3,000 for inclusion of text in the anthology
  • Flights, visa, accommodation and a per diem allowance during one-week residency in Sharjah
  • A copy of the compilation and anthology

Open call: Urban Commissions

ART / DESIGN / ARCHTECTURE

DEADLINE 20 July 2025
Apply for AED 120,000 award to design and build a themed public-domain installations for Dubai Design Week (4-9 Nov)

  • Dubai Design Week’s annual competition for public-domain outdoor infrastructure to be shown at the 11th DDW, 4–9 Nov in d3
  • 2025 theme is ‘Courtyard’ – proposals “should examine the courtyard’s historical function as an inclusive space fostering social interaction and community, emphasising its significance as a central gathering point whilst balancing public and private perspectives … Proposals should consider how courtyards, and by extension urban built environments, can shape communities by blurring the boundaries between public furniture and communal architecture”
  • Designs should …
    – foster a fluid relationship between enclosure and the expansive outdoors
    – incorporate materials and strategies that enhance airflow, cooling and shading while maintaining an open connection to the sky
    – include opportunities for community-led activities and adaptable programming (selected proposal will collaborate with the DDW team to implement these activities)
  • At least one winner, but could be more at the organiser’s discretion (though experience suggests it’s unlikely that more than one award will be made)
  • Each winner gets a production budget of AED 120,000 for project development, technical plans, renders, production and installation
  • Apply with basic info plus …
    – Proposal concept statement
    – Portfolio of previous works
    – CV
    – Image references and renders for the proposal
    – Use of materials
    – Approx budget for production and installation
    – Dimensions, spatial and technical requirements
    – Timeline for project completion
  • Selection by “a jury panel of experts in the design field”
  • Proposal must …
    – Demonstrate relationship to the theme
    – Take a responsible design approach (eg sustainable use of materials and processes in production, construction, installation, operation)
    – Be suitable for year-round outdoor use in Dubai
    – Not exceed loading of 350kg per m2
    – Be at least partly produced in the UAE
    – Be ready for the opening of Dubai Design Week (4 Nov 2025)
  • Multiple proposals can be made “subject to each proposal not being similar in nature of concept”
  • Organisers get the usual “worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual and royalty-free licence to use, display, publish, disseminate the materials submitted in the proposal” for promotional purposes
  • Queries to submissions@dubaidesignweek.ae
  • No entry fee
  • None specified
  • At least one winner (possibly more) gets an award of AED 120,000 to cover design, production, installation
  • Public exhibition during DDW and beyond
  • Promotional exposure via DDW

Open call: DDW installations

ART / DESIGN / ARCHTECTURE

DEADLINE 31 July 2025
Apply to develop an installation for Dubai Design Week (4-9 Nov)

  • Dubai Design Week seeks proposals for outdoor installations from architects, collectives, creative practitioners, and design-led companies // Installations are for the 11th DDW, 4–9 Nov in d3
  • No set theme but proposals should “highlight design’s potential to foster inclusive, community-focused environments”
  • No specific financial awards, but “successful proposals will have the opportunity to be considered for a production bursary” (details unspecified)
  • Proposal must …
    – Demonstrate relationship to the theme
    – Take a responsible design approach (eg sustainable use of materials and processes in production, construction, installation, operation)
    – Be suitable for year-round outdoor use in Dubai
    – Be at least partly produced in the UAE
    – Be ready for the opening of Dubai Design Week (4 Nov 2025)
  • Apply with basic info plus …
    – Proposal concept statement
    – Portfolio of previous works
    – CV
    – Image references and renders for the proposal
    – Use of materials
    – Dimensions, spatial and technical requirements
    – Timeline for project completion
  • Organisers get the usual “worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual and royalty-free licence to use, display, publish, disseminate the materials submitted in the proposal” for promotional purposes
  • Queries to submissions@dubaidesignweek.ae
  • No entry fee
  • None specified
  • Public exhibition during DDW and beyond
  • Promotional exposure via DDW
  • Possibility of financial award

Open call: Sharjah Art Foundation Publishing Grant 2025–2026 

RESEARCH / PUBLISHING

DEADLINE 17 August 2025
Apply for up to $15,000 to deliver an experimental and/or innovative publishing project

  • Open to cultural producers, including art and culture scholars, translators, writers, editors, independent publishers and publishing houses, collectives and non-profit institutions
  • Intended for “underrepresented practitioners, writers and cultural workers” with an experimental approach to content and publishing that challenges “dominant and canonical knowledge systems”
  • Also eligible: “independent, non-commercial standalone editorial initiatives and publications that demonstrate thorough knowledge of pertinent topics related to the current theoretical and artistic climate”
  • Total of $30,000 is available to multiple grantees – no one grant will exceed $15,000 – to produce and publish the project. Successful projects will be launched at Focal Point art book fair 2026, grantees will participate in Focal Point panel discussions etc
  • Proposed projects “should pursue an experimental and innovative approach to publishing that can contribute to the production of original ideas and critical thinking”
  • Possible formats include …
    – graphic novels
    – limited-edition art books
    – research dossiers
    – reports
    – translation of historical materials
    – reprints
  • Applicants should be based in “or working on” … the Global South; indigenous and diasporic communities; or other “structurally marginalised positions globally”
  • Single-author applications are eligible, but preference goes to collaborative efforts
  • Concept and contents should already be “fairly well developed” at time of application
  • Final project must be presented in Arabic and/or English
  • Grant money must be used for (a) research (b) fees eg honoraria, writing, editing, translation, image reproduction and licensing, designing, printing and shipping to Sharjah
  • IP copyright remains with the applicant; grantees acknowledge Sharjah Art Foundation’s support and assign worldwide rights to publication and distribution to SAF
  • Timeline:
    – Deadline 17 Aug 2025
    – Winners announced at Focal Point 2025
    – Grantees plan, implement, publish before 1 Oct 2026
    – Winning projects unveiled at Focal Point 2026
  • Criteria for evaluation:
    > Feasibility – realistic goals, workable timeline (project completion by Focal Point, Nov/Dec 2026)
    > Form – research-based and/or experimental approach to art-related topics and formats
    > Impact – “strong potential to offer new understandings of publishing practices outside of the mainstream”
    > Capacity – applicants must demonstrate knowledge and ability, plus access to necessary resources outside of the amount of the grant
  • Ineligible projects:
    – Fiction, drama, poetry, biographies
    – Exhibition catalogues or monographs associated with another institution
    – Funding for infrastructure, equipment, operations
    – Projects already published
  • Sharjah Art Foundation provides …
    – grant funding
    – access to editors, translators, designers, printers, shippers
    – marketing
    – round-trip air ticket and hotel accommodation in Sharjah for Focal Point 2026
  • Grantee will give SAF 20-40% of the total print run to be placed in libraries etc and sold in SAF shops (at a price set by the grantee, though grantees will not be entitled to royalties)
  • Apply via online form with basic details and …
    – bio (250w max)
    – project title and description 500w max)
    – supporting documents (one PDF, max 5pp, max 10MB)
    – budget (for printing up to 1,000 copies)
    – amount of funding requested
  • No entry fee
  • Applicants should be based in “or working on” … the Global South; indigenous and diasporic communities; or other “structurally marginalised positions globally”
  • Award of up to $15,000 to complete and print the project
  • Visibility at Focal Point art fair
  • Promotion by SAF
  • Possibility of royalties

Open call: Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC)

MUSIC

DEADLINE 5 September 2025
New competition for orchestral or solo works; cash prizes for three finalists plus world premiere performance for winner

  • “A platform for emerging and established composers, created to advocate for contemporary music, nurture creative talent and empower the next generation of musical visionaries”
  • Established by ADMAF as part of Abu Dhabi Festival
  • Submissions will be evaluated by “a jury featuring some of the world’s most renowned composers, conductors and leading musicians” (members to be announced Sep 2025)
  • Submit in two categories (though we assume there’s only a single winner) …
    – Orchestral Work: original composition for orchestra (instruments specified in rules), max duration 10 mins
    – Solo Instrument: original solo instrument composition for piano, max duration 5 mins
  • Works must be original, unpublished, and unperformed prior to submission
  • Timeline:
    – Submission deadline 15 Sep 2025
    – Jury evaluation 15–20 Oct 2025
    – Shortlist announced 15 Dec 2025
    – Deadline for scores 1 Feb 2026
    – Premiere and awards ceremony Apr 2026
  • Prizes:
    > 1st – AED 130,000 + Commission + World Premiere Performance
    > 2nd – AED 50,000 + “performance and mentorship”
    > 3rd – AED 25,000 + mentorship
  • Apply only with official submission form plus …
    – Score (PDF)
    – Audio file (live or MIDI)
    – Composer bio and photo
    – “Concept Note” – a short write-up to give context to your submission, highlighting your inspirations, artistic journey and creative process (300w max)
  • Winner agrees to cede exclusive rights for the world premiere performance plus reproduction, distribution and broadcast. Composer retains full entitlement to royalties generated from public performances
  • Queries to ADICC@admaf.org
  • No entry fee
  • Born after 15 Sep 1975
  • First prize:
    – AED 130,000
    – Commission + World Premiere Performance at 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival (April 2026)
    – Professional recording and online and broadcast
    – Opportunity to publish score
    – All travel and accommodation expenses to cover rehearsals, press conference, awards ceremony
  • Second prize:
    – AED 50,000
    – “Performance and mentorship”
    – Publicity
  • Third prize:
    – AED 25,000
    – Mentorship

Open call: The Art Circle Award 2025

ART

DEADLINE 7 September 2025
Annual competition for 2D art; shortlisted artists participate in exhibition; one winner receives AED 20,000

  • Annual award organized by The Art Circle, a UAE-registered non-profit
  • Theme: Story of a Dot – “inspired by Bauhaus’ fusion of art, craft, and technology … Artists are invited to transform the dot through Bauhaus ideals of geometry, abstraction, and function … Artists will explore the dot’s evolution into lines, planes, and structures”
  • Submissions must be …
    – 2D art
    – Painting or mixed media (no digital techniques)
    – Min 40cm, max 80cm per side
    – Framed (simple wooden American-style frame: max 3cm width, no glass/Plexiglas)
  • Submissions must not have won an award in any other competition
  • One submission only per person
  • Previous winners are ineligible
  • Apply with …
    – UAE ID copy (PDF)
    – Bio (PDF)
    – High-resolution image of the artwork (JPG)
    – Artwork dimensions (hxw)
    – Optional portfolio of past works (PDF)
  • Selection by jury of art experts “including UAE institution directors, curators, and collectors”. Evaluation criteria:
    – “Conceptual strength”: how effectively does the artwork express the theme
    – Bauhaus & Arab Modernist influence: how well does the work embody Bauhaus principles and Arab abstraction?
    – Composition & Design: balance, structure, “visual harmony”
    – Material & Technique: innovation, technical skill
    – Originality & Expression: interpretation of the theme
  • Shortlisted artists notified by 15 Sep, must then submit original works for physical assessment
  • Final shortlist announced on TAC website and artists notified. Shortlisted works will be exhibited (in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; date/location tbc) – shortlisted artists must loan their artworks, free of charge, to TAC for two months for this
  • One winner announced at the exhibition receives AED 20,000
  • Winning artwork becomes property of The Art Circle (TAC) part of The Art Circle Collection and will be reproduced as limited-edition giclée prints (signed and numbered by the artist) to be offered to “various art specialists and directors of major art institutions as well as artists and collectors”. No further reproduction, distribution, or exhibition without artist approval
  • No entry fee
  • UAE Nationals and residents
  • 18+ years
  • All finalists get a certificate, social media coverage, and exposure from participation in the exhibition
  • One winner receives AED 20,000

Open call: Concept proposals for National Pavilion UAE exhibition at the 20th Biennale Architettura di Venezia (May – Nov 2027)

ARCHITECTURE / URBANISM

DEADLINE 30 September 2025
Propose an exhibition that uncovers an untold story from the UAE’s architectural landscape for the National Pavilion UAEs participation in the 20th Biennale Architettura di Venezia

  • Propose an exhibition that uncovers an untold story from the UAE’s architectural landscape for the National Pavilion UAEs participation in the 20th Biennale Architettura di Venezia (May – Nov 2027)
  • Proposals sought from architects, designers, artists, historians, and researchers who have lived, worked, or studied in the UAE or the MENASA region
  • Apply as individual or team
  • For individual applications …
    – applicants living and working in the UAE are preferred
  • For team applications …
    – Max five members
    – At least one must have a background in architecture, urban planning, or urban design – but teams can include members of different fields; curators, artists, historians, designers, theorists, scientists, critics, “anyone working in similar fields”
    – At least one must be an Emirati National
    – Preference for least one team member to be based in the UAE
  • Applications (in English only) as a single PDF, max 10 pages and 5MB, submitted by email to architecture@nationalpavilionuae.org with a link to proposal PDF at a file-sharing service (eg WeTransfer, DropBox)
  • Application PDF must include …
    – Description of the subject/theme clearly explaining the concept (max 2500 words and file size 5MB)
    – Any visual support material (photos, sketches, etc)
    – List of team members, if applicable
    – Bios of team member (max 500 words per person)
    – Samples of past work (max 3 projects, max 3 images per project)
  • Selection is based on content and quality of the proposal, the ability to execute the final exhibition, and “most importantly” the UAE story being told and how that relates at a global level
  • Selection timeline:
    1. Submissions to be received by midnight on 30 Sept 2025
    2. Up to 10 applicants will be shortlisted and invited to work up a fully developed exhibition proposal for Nov 2025
    3. Up to three finalists will be invited to present to the selection committee
    4. One proposal will be selected
  • No mention at this stage of monetary support, though experience suggests this will be more than adequate
  • No entry fee
  • Open to all applicants, but …
    – for teams at least one member must be Emirati and at least one must have a background in architecture, urban planning, or urban design
    – for individuals, preference will go to applicants who live or work in the UAE
  • Exhibit in National Pavilion UAE at the 20th Biennale Architettura di Venezia (May – Nov 2027)