• Type of Submission: General invitation.

• Applicants: emerging and mid-career Saudi and international artists, curators, and writers in the field of visual art (critics, historians) can apply.

• Duration of Stay: 6 weeks.

• Number of Residents per Cycle: 9 (on average), including 7 artists, a writer, and a curator.

Candidates must:

• Have graduated from a post-secondary institution (recognized art, craft, design institute, college, or university) or provide proof of previous artistic activity/work
• Be proficient in Arabic and/or English and be sufficiently independent to manage their residency
• Demonstrate commitment to develop a project in connection with the local context and submit a project proposal with their candidacy
• Applying artists must specify whether they are applying for a production grant in their candidacy.
• Artists are not required to produce artwork during their residency; the program can be either research or production-based.
• There is no application fee. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only applications submitted through our website and the provided online application form will be evaluated.
• Due to the high expected number of applicants, please note that we will not be able to provide individual feedback to non-selected candidates.

Submission windows:

• First cycle: 20th December 2021 – 10th January 2022
• Second Cycle: 8th January 2022 – 5th February 2022
• Third Cycle: 25th February 2022 – 26th March 2022
• Fourth Cycle: 15th April 2022 – 14 May 2022

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee managed by Hafez Projects and made of local and international experts. The names of the selected candidates will be announced later.

The application process requires a range of information, including a clear and detailed explanation of the following:

• Previous residency experience/s: provide information on your previous experience of attending a residency (if any) by detailing the residency’s name, location, and year/period of participation.
• Background and interests: provide clear information about your professional experiences, interests, and creative practice and its focus.
• All applicants must demonstrate that they have an active artistic practice by describing the most recent projects / exhibitions / texts / publications / research they have worked on.
• Motivation: what motivates your choice to apply for this residency, and how it can help you in your career path.
• Project description: a clear explanation of your research / creative project helps the selection committee to form balanced groups of people who can work together and whose work can complement one another.
• Applicants must specify whether they plan to focus on an ongoing research / work or on a new one. Artists developing a work in progress bear the costs of transportation of the already existing components (if any) to the studio spaces.
• Project connection with the local context: describing how your project is related to Jeddah’s local context and/or in which ways you plan to involve the local communities of Jeddah/the historical district helps the organizers to understand what kind of support you may need during your stay.
• Applying artists should detail the steps they will undertake to achieve their project’s goals chronologically and specify whether they need financial support to cover project-related costs.
• Several residency programs will be running in 2022. Applicants will have the opportunity to select the residency cycle that suits them best at the candidacy submission stage.
• A copy of the applicants’ updated CV, biography, and portfolio must be attached to the application.

Al Balad has a rich history and is one of the city’s pedestrian neighborhoods. With its studios located in the historical building of Rubat Al Khunji, the residency stands as an opportunity for the residents to learn more about the city’s diverse traditions and culture. At the same time, it encourages them to interact with the local communities and connect with other art professionals from Jeddah, the Kingdom, and beyond.

In addition to access to the studios the residency includes:

• Round trip ticket to/from Jeddah
• Accommodation at a limited distance from the studios’ venue
• A stipend of 6000 Saudi riyals ($1600) to cover residents’ personal and living expenses
• A production allowance (artists only) usually ranging from 5000 to 10000 Saudi riyals ($1300-2600) for applicants who need financial support to cover project-related costs and choose a production-based residency in their application. The allowance is granted upon revision and acceptance by the organizers.

What is an art residency?

An artistic residency gives professional artists the opportunity to live and work outside their usual environment, providing them with time for reflection, research and work. During the artistic residency, professional artists are able to explore new places, learn about diverse cultures and work with different materials. Such experiences are meant to have a long-term impact on artists’ personal and professional lives.

Who is responsible for the Art Residency| Albalad program?

The Art residency Program | Al-Balad is the first residency program organized by the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the “Artistic Residency” initiative. It was announced at the inaugural ceremony of the Ministry of Culture’s activity in March 2019. The program is considered a pilot version within the “Artistic Residency” initiative; it is sponsored by the Quality of Life Program, and is operated by a private organization from the Jeddah artistic scene. The first edition of the Art Residency Program | Al-Balad was operated by Athr Gallery, in partnership with Hospitalfield. The second edition of the program will be implemented by Hafez Projects.

Where is the residency going to take place?

The residency will take place in the historical district of Jeddah (also known as Al Balad). Al Balad is one of the city’s pedestrian neighborhoods and is registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here, residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the traditions, customs, and culture of the city and may get in direct connection with the local community of the district.

The studios are located in Rubat Al-Khunji. Rubat Al-Khunji is a historical building located in the heart of the city. It was built in 1813 AD and was used as a guest house for widows and single women under the umbrella of a long-term charitable initiative. Since then, the building remained deserted until it recently started hosting cultural events.

Ministry of Culture commissioned the restoration of the building with the aim of hosting artistic residencies.

Can I show my work during my residency?

All works and research carried out during the artistic residency can be shown during the open studio event taking at the end of each residency cycle.

Does the residency cover local transportation costs?

The residency program does not cover local transportation expenses. The stipend provided by the art residency can be used for this purpose.

Do I have to pay to participate in the Art Residency Program?

The art residency is fully funded and is inclusive of:

• Round trip ticket to/from Jeddah.
• Accommodation in a shared flat at a limited distance from the working studios’ location.
• A stipend of 6000 Saudi riyals to cover residents’ personal and living expenses.
• A production allowance usually ranging from 5000 to 10000 Saudi riyals for artists who need financial support to cover project-related costs and choose a production-based residency in their application.

Will any activity take place outside the main venue of the residency?

Each residency will include a diversified program of visits, meetings with art field experts and guests, and an online training program. Residents will be encouraged to partake in the lively cultural offer of the city of Jeddah all along their stay.

Residents will also have access to a number of facilities through the support of our local partners, including universities, institutions, and local initiatives.

Is health insurance coverage included in the residency offer?

No, residents are invited to take care of their health insurance independently.

Can I extend my stay?

Should they be willing so, residents can extend their stay in Jeddah; however, they will not be able to access the studios, nor will they be provided with accommodation after the end of their residency. All costs connected to an extended stay remain at the resident’s expense.

What is the minimum age to apply?

Eligible applicants must be 21 years or older.

What nationalities are eligible to apply?

The program is open to Saudi and international artists, curators, art writers.

How many artworks should I display in my portfolio?

The portfolio should give a broad idea of ​​the applicant's body of work and include information about the applicant’s creative process and practice.

Do I have to submit the application in Arabic?

Applications can be submitted in either Arabic or English.

Can I submit an application more than once?

Yes, but only the last submitted application will be considered.

What if I miss the application deadline?

Applications are accepted during the open invitation period and via the application form available on the Art Residency website. Application submitted after the closing date will not be accepted.

Can I apply if I do not have a complete portfolio?

Applications will be evaluated against their answers on the application form as well as their CV biography and profile.

I applied for a previous edition of the program and I was not selected. May I submit my application again?

Yes.

Do I have to be vaccinated to participate in the residency?

All residents must have completed their vaccination at least two weeks before their residency start. Candidates who have not completed their vaccination process or do not plan to do so will be automatically disqualified.

In addition, residents traveling to Jeddah will be required to provide a negative PCR test undertaken within 72 hours prior travel.

Is it possible to apply and submit an application as a collective of artists (2 or more)?

Yes. A group of artists can apply together in one application, where they can submit one project, and combine their CVs, biographies, and portfolio.