Alserkal Arts Foundation Research Grants Programme

Currently, the Foundation is seeking applications that demonstrate an interest in pursuing intersectional and experimental approaches to research, and that strive to blur the boundaries between conventional disciplines. They will particularly welcome applications from practices that have been impacted by or are attentive to the violence and polarization that they are witnessing today.

Potential grant awardees may include multidisciplinary visual and sonic artists, architects, writers, independent publishers, documentary filmmakers, educators, geographers, historians, economists and more. Previous Research Grant awardees have included curators, artists, writers and researchers Léa Morin, Manar Moursi, Shahana Rajani and Jeanne Penjan Lassus, Zainab Gaafar and Khalda El Jack, Natasha Maru and Rhea Shah, Lubnah Ansari and Maitha AlSuwaidi.

Funding Information

• Research grants are awarded as follows:
  • Grants for individuals – up to US$5,000
  • Grants for duos/collectives – up to US$10,000
  • Grants for independent publishers – up to US$10,000
  • Research grants are awarded in phases. The Foundation will work closely with the grant recipients to make sure funds are disbursed in line with research requirements.

Eligible Funding

• Research grants may be used for:
  • Rental of equipment required for field work (e.g. cameras, audio records, dictaphone)
  • Rental of space required for video and/or audio recording (e.g. film studio, sound booth, editing suite)
  • Transcription and translation services
  • Video editing and/or sound editing services
  • Website design and website development
  • Editorial design
  • Gratuities and fees for project support and assistants
  • Honorariums for research collaborators, contributors, editors, copy editors, proofreaders
  • Printing and binding of publications
  • Library and digital learning resources memberships
  • Acquisition of primary archival resources and out of print books or publications

Ineligible Funding

• Funds may not be used for:
  • Purchase of electronic hardware and media (e.g. film cameras, speakers, laptops)
  • Purchase of personal items, health insurance, visa fees
  • Purchase of books (in-circulation), monthly publication subscriptions
  • Fees for personal one-on-one mentorship and/or courses, university classes, vocational studies, professional training programmes
  • Postgraduate education (e.g. fees for diplomas, certificates)
  • Participation (e.g. application fee, participation fee, booth rental fee) in fairs or trade market (e.g. film market, art fairs, design fairs)
  • Shipping fees for personal items including books

Ineligible Projects

• The following types of projects/proposals will be disqualified from consideration:
  • Projects with a commercial interest or outcome
  • Projects for a political or religious entity or group
  • Projects for a registered charity, healthcare, or educational organisations
  • Projects with a realisation deadline of more than 24 months

Eligibility Criteria

• Selection for Alserkal Arts Foundation’s Research Grants is based on applicants’ potential to become influential researchers, writers, practitioners, and thought-leaders in their respective fields. The application should make a cohesive argument for how the applicant will expand their expertise through Alserkal Arts Foundation’s Research Grants. Applicants from all countries and disciplines are eligible.
• To be eligible to receive a research grant, all applicants must:
  • Be over 21 years of age
  • Have 5 years of experience
  • Demonstrate an imaginative and evolving practice which creates space for accessible discourse and pedagogy.

For more information, visit Alserkal Arts Foundation.