Images courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation
Sharjah Art Foundation 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. The Residency Programme offers selected participants the unique opportunity to engage with Sharjah’s vibrant creative communities and develop their work in a supportive and resource-rich environment.
The Residency Programme provides the following benefits:
Locations
Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, Arts Square, Sharjah City
Residency dates: November 2025 to March 2026
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.
Kalba Ice Factory, Kalba City
Residency dates:
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, 15 and 16.
Application Deadline: 30 August 2025 (Saturday, 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +4))
For more detailed information and to apply, visit sharjahart.org.
Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. The Foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The Foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions; and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.
Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. It was named UNESCO's Arab Capital of Culture for 1998 and the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.
Alyazeyah Al Marri
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113
Images courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation