Sharjah Art Foundation invites cultural producers, including art and culture scholars, translators, writers, editors, independent publishers and publishing houses, collectives and non-profit institutions, to submit project proposals for the Foundation’s Publishing Grant. Projects should pursue an experimental and innovative approach to publishing that can contribute to the production of original ideas and critical thinking.
The Foundation will provide a total of 30,000 USD to multiple grantees to support projects that exhibit outstanding intellectual, graphic and material qualities. The requested grant amount per individual project must not exceed 15,000 USD. The deadline for submission is 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +3) on 17 August 2025.
● The Publishing Grant is designed for underrepresented practitioners, writers and cultural workers who foreground an experimental approach to content and publishing, and challenge dominant and canonical knowledge systems. They should be based in, or working on, the Global South, Indigenous and diasporic communities, or other structurally marginalised positions globally. Previous grant winners have been based in Palestine, India, Ghana and Kuwait.
● The grant also seeks out independent, non-commercial standalone editorial initiatives and publications that demonstrate thorough knowledge of pertinent topics related to the current theoretical and artistic climate.
● Proposed publications should have a focused theme, topic and location that can feed into pre-existing knowledge and disciplines. The concept and contents should already be fairly well developed at the time of application.
● Submissions from publications that include multiple collaborators and collective efforts are encouraged. Although single-authored publications are also eligible, the majority of those selected in the past were commonly the outcome of collaborative efforts.
■ Feasibility
Realistic goals and a workable timeline are imperative. The project must be completed in time to coincide with the launch of Focal Point, Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual art book fair, in November/December 2026.
■ Form
A research-based and/or experimental approach to art-related topics and formats is encouraged. Possible formats include, but are not limited to, graphic novels, limited-edition artist books, research dossiers, reports, translation of historical materials and reprints.
■ Impact
Proposed projects must show strong potential to offer new understandings of publishing practices outside of the mainstream. Non-commercial and independent projects that serve as catalysts for expanding research on an understudied topic or that promote diversity of thought, authorship and radical forms of public engagement would be particularly welcome.
■ Capacity
Applicants should be able to demonstrate existing knowledge and ability to complete their project successfully as well as access to necessary resources outside of the amount of the grant request.
Can I apply with multiple projects?
No, multiple entries will be automatically disqualified.
What is the maximum grant amount allocated to an individual project?
A single grant request must not exceed 15,000 USD.
What is the timeline for finishing the project?
Grant recipients should allocate sufficient time to plan, implement, publish before 1 October 2026.
We are a collective of two (or more) members. Should all our names and biographical data be included in the application?
Collectives are advised to apply under the name of their collective and include the biography of each member as part of the application. In case of a successful application, one member can be chosen as a legal representative and the main point of contact.
Is it mandatory for the project to be in Arabic and/or English?
Yes. The final project must be presented in Arabic and/or English. It is also possible to publish the text in a third language (in addition to Arabic and/or English). No cost or responsibility of producing the text in a third language is borne by Sharjah Art Foundation. Projects should be submitted to the Foundation fully completed.
How should the grant money be allocated?
Grant money should be used towards research and fee-based activities such as honoraria, writing, editing, translation, image reproduction and licensing, designing, printing and shipping to Sharjah.
I am applying with a project that has been published before. Am I still eligible to apply?
Only projects that have never been published, at least not with an ISBN and/or for commercial distribution, qualify.
Whose responsibility is it to secure all related rights to reproduce or reprint archival material?
Applicants must already hold or agree to obtain all related rights, licences and permissions to reproduce or reprint any relevant archival material or images, including licensing support from other funding organisations/institutions at the time of application and for the finished project.
Who owns the rights to aesthetic and intellectual content?
Copyright to all aesthetic and intellectual content will remain with the applicant. Successful grant recipients should agree to acknowledge Sharjah Art Foundation’s support in all published media and accord the Foundation worldwide rights to the reproduction, distribution, public communication and adaptation of the project.
Will I have the rights to republish the project later?
Primary publishing rights should be shared with Sharjah Art Foundation. Any second or new editions and rights to republish should be discussed with the Foundation. Rights will not be unreasonably withheld.
Who is responsible for the distribution of the finished project?
Sharjah Art Foundation is the primary point of dissemination and contact for distributors in the Arabian Gulf region. Grant recipients are also encouraged to promote the material through their personal networks and channels.
What is the total number of copies to be considered when budgeting for the grant?
It depends on the scope and purpose of the project. The total can vary from a limited-edition print run to up to 1,000 copies. We do not recommend going over 1,000 offset copies.
How do I decide the price of the published project?
The price of the finished project is decided by the grant recipient based on total costs incurred during the project production.
How many copies does Sharjah Art Foundation retain?
The Foundation will ask the grantee to provide between 20 to 40 per cent of the total print run to be placed in libraries and institutions and to sell them at our shops for the price set by the grantee. Please note that in case of sale through the Foundation’s distribution networks, the grant recipient is not entitled to royalties.
In addition to providing funding, what else does Sharjah Art Foundation cover?
● The winner(s) will be provided a round-trip air ticket in economy class and hotel accommodation in Sharjah to launch their completed project at Focal Point and participate in the talks programme.
● The Foundation will promote the works through its own marketing and distribution network.
● If required, the Foundation can connect grant recipients to its network of editors, translators, designers, printers and shippers to support the process of producing the publication.
Which projects are not eligible for the grant?
Projects in the following categories are not eligible for the Publishing Grant:
● Fiction, drama, poetry and biographies
● Proposals for exhibition catalogues or monographs associated with another institution or commercial space
● Projects where funding is intended to cover infrastructure and equipment costs as well as the costs of operating cultural facilities, archives and collections
When will the names of the grant winners be announced?
Winning project(s) will be announced on social media platforms during Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual art book fair, Focal Point, which will likely take place between November and December 2025).