Free Artist Residencies in United Arab Emirates

421

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The 421 Residency Program supports creative practitioners from various disciplines seeking space and time for experimentation. This multidisciplinary program spans five months and takes place at the artist studios at 421 Arts Campus in MiZa. The residency is open to practices in visual arts, curation, design and technology, literary arts, music, theater, culinary arts, and more. It prioritizes process-driven exploration over the need for a final project outcome. The program is designed for artists from the MENASA region (Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia), offering living space and studio facilities for non-Abu Dhabi-based participants, as well as travel expenses, a stipend, and a production budget. Each residency cohort includes three artists, with two cohorts held annually. The program promotes collaborative engagement among its residents while encouraging individual experimentation.

Sharjah Art Foundation

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The Sharjah Art Foundation Residency Programme invites visual artists, writers, poets, researchers, musicians, performance artists, filmmakers, and other creatives to explore and expand their experimental, interdisciplinary practices in Sharjah, UAE. Selected participants receive flights, transportation, accommodation, a monthly stipend, and access to the Foundation's networks and resources at venues like Bait Obaid Al Shamsi. Residencies typically last 2-3 months, such as from 17 November 2025 to 15 January 2026 or 2 February to 30 March 2026.