Residency Program 2026

Application deadline is January 14, 2026.

Apply here: https://421-online.submittable.com/submit/323743/421-artist-residency-program-2026

The Residency Program supports creative practitioners with work that requires studio space, and who are looking for time and space to experiment. The five-month program takes place from February to July and July to December 2026 in the artist studios at 421 Arts Campus, MiZa. Designed for the creative community at large, the residency is multidisciplinary in focus and is open to practices in visual arts and curation, design and technology, music, literary arts, culinary arts, performance and theater, and other creative disciplines. The residency program prioritizes free experimentation without the pressures of a final outcome, but rather a focus on rigorous process and studio use. The residency will bring together three successful applicants for each cohort of the program.

Eligibility

The Residency Program Is Open To All Disciplines. Additionally

• Applicants must be over 21
• Disciplines include, but are not limited to: Visual Arts and Curation, Design and Technology, Literary Arts, Music, Culinary Arts, Theater and Performance
• Applicants should not be enrolled in a degree program at the time that the residency takes place
  
  

The Residency Includes

• Private studio space
• Living space for accepted residents not based in Abu Dhabi
• Round trip travel for accepted residents not based in Abu Dhabi
• Travel expenses
• Stipend/per diem
• Production budget
  
  

This program is open to all creative practitioners in the West Asia, North Africa and South Asia regions.

Past Participants Include

Jumaanah Alhashemi, Christopher Benton, Auguste Nomeikaite, Adrian Pepe, Farah Soltani (NYUAD MFA Artist Residency Fellow), Shama Al Hamed, Yousif Abdulsaid, Moza Almazrouei, Tamara Barrage, and Khaled Esguerra.

This program originates from our former Homebound Residency Program, one that is no longer running as we shift to an in-space approach at our new artist studios.

Previous Homebound Residency Program Participants Include

Raghvi Bhatia, Nihal Faizel, Ayesha Singh, Fatma Belkis, Khaled Alwarae, Yara Asmar, Roger Mokbel, Bariya Collective, Chahine Fellahi and Kais Aiouch, and Salem Al Suwaidi.

Application deadline is January 14, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

The residency program is open to creative practitioners of all disciplines over 21 years of age — including, without limitation to, Visual Arts & Curation, Design & Technology, Theatre & Performance, Literary Arts, Culinary Arts, and Music — from within the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia regions.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Applicants must be over 21 years of age.

Disciplines include, but not limited to: Visual Arts and Curation, Design and Technology, Literary Arts, Music, Culinary Arts, Theatre and Performance.

Applicants should not be enrolled in a degree program at the time that the residency takes place.

Regional affiliation: Applicants should be from, based in, or working on projects relevant to the MENASA region.

How many residents will be chosen?

Six resident artists will be chosen to participate in the program which takes two cohorts a year, one that starts in February and the other in June. Three artists participate in the program at a time.

What is the production budget that will be awarded to the residents?

Successful applicants will be awarded with a production to be employed for any equipment or material required for the completion and realization of their projects.

How long is the residency program?

The program will run for five months.

When can interested applicants start applying, and how?

The full application, including all supplemental materials, must be submitted online via https://421-online.submittable.com/submit. The applications close on January 14, 2026.

When will the residency start?

The residency will start in February 2026.

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