Sharjah Art Foundation Residency Programme invites applications from visual artists, writers, poets, researchers, musicians, performance artists, filmmakers and other creatives who wish to explore and expand their experimental, interdisciplinary practices. This unique opportunity offers selected participants the possibility to engage with Sharjah’s vibrant creative communities and develop their work in a supportive and resource-rich environment.
The Residency Programme provides selected participants with:
● Flights and transportation to the Emirate of Sharjah
● Accommodation
● A monthly stipend
● Access to Sharjah Art Foundation’s extensive institutional networks and resources
Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, Arts Square, Sharjah City
Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, a creek-side heritage house in the Al Shuwaiheen neighbourhood, was the personal residence of pearl merchant Obaid bin Hamad Al Shamsi and his family until the 1970s. Dating to the mid-nineteenth century, the complex comprises 16 rooms, which surround an airy central courtyard. In the late 1990s, the house was restored and repurposed as a suite of artist studios and exhibition spaces. The complex offers panoramic views of the creek from its rooftop terrace. Serving as a Sharjah Biennial venue for large-scale installations and performances since 2009, Bait Obaid Al Shamsi also hosts regular art workshops, residencies and year-round events.
November 2025 to March 2026
Kalba Ice Factory, Kalba City
Kalba Ice Factory boasts well-lit exhibition areas, art studios and residential accommodation within a natural setting. The complex is located next to Kalba Creek and Al Qurm mangroves, home to many endangered species of birds, turtles and lizards. The 1970s brutalist concrete structure, enclosed by the saw-tooth silhouette of a corrugated metal roof, was once a fish feed mill and ice storage facility. Acquired by Sharjah Art Foundation in 2012, it was retrofitted by Lima-based 51-1 Arquitectos, and used as a venue for Sharjah Biennials 12 and 15.
● 17 November 2025 to 15 January 2026
● 2 February to 30 March 2026
Application Deadline: Friday, 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4), 15 August 2025.