CFAs: National Program for Culture and Creativity Grant Program (UAE)

Objectives

• Supporting Emirati innovators to enhance their creative, intellectual and professional growth.
• Preserving the national identity and Emirati heritage by promoting cultural production.
• Building a strong talent pool in the country to enrich the UAE’s creative economy.
• Empowering Emirati creators to showcase their creative works on local and international platforms.
• Expanding the network of local cultural and creative industries in the UAE and enhancing their social and economic value.
• Encouraging sustainability in the artistic practices of artists and creative practitioners through the use of environmentally friendly materials and processes.

Areas of Focus

• The National Program for Culture and Creativity Grants supports seven areas:
  • Movies & TV
  • Music
  • Authorship & publishing
  • Video games
  • Visual arts & Design
  • Performing arts & Theatre
  • Cultural Heritage

Grant Categories

• International travel and mobility: The International Travel and Mobility Grant aims to support creative individuals to participate in events and opportunities by funding travel, accommodation, and participation costs to represent the UAE in international forums.
• Skills development: The Skills Development Grant aims to support the professional development of creatives by developing their skills and enhancing their knowledge.
• Local Promotion and Participation: The Local Promotion and Participation Grant aims to cover the costs of distributing, promoting, and publishing creative projects, increasing visibility for locally produced artworks and creating opportunities for the creative community.
• Documentation and archiving: The “Documentation and Archiving” category aims to fund projects related to the preservation and documentation of cultural and artistic productions, ensuring their sustainability as a reference for future generations.
• Creativity and production: The Creativity and Production Grant aims to fund the production of original and innovative artistic and creative works across various media.

Funding Information

• International travel and mobility: Creatives will receive a financial grant of up to AED 50,000.
• Skills development: Creative individuals in the Skills Development category will receive a financial grant of up to AED 50,000.
• Local Promotion and Participation: Creative individuals in the distribution and local participation category will receive a financial grant of up to AED 80,000.
• Documentation and archiving: Creative individuals in the Documentation and Archiving category receive a financial grant of up to AED 100,000.
• Creativity and production: Creative individuals in the Creativity and Production category will receive a financial grant of up to AED 100,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• The programme supports emerging, professional and artisan UAE nationals working in cultural and creative professions.
• The applicant must be a UAE citizen or the child of a UAE woman, and have a proven track record of achievements in cultural and creative fields, or possess academic qualifications.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with the exception of those with exceptional achievements and skills in cultural and creative fields.
• The project or opportunity presented must be compatible with cultural and creative fields and enhance the culture and national identity of the UAE.
• The applicant must maintain his national identity and respect the country’s customs, traditions, and social values.

Application Requirements

• International travel and mobility:
  • Proof of invitation or acceptance to participate in the event.
  • Proof of acceptance of nomination or award.
  • Invitation to present work at the event.
  • The required permits and approvals necessary to showcase their project within the event participation opportunity.
• Skills development:
  • Program overview
  • Proof of acceptance into the academic program or course.
  • Expenses and program cost guide.
• Local Promotion and Participation:
  • The general framework of the project includes a detailed explanation, prototypes and proposals such as a drawn scenario, images, written texts, drawings.
  • Proof of invitation or acceptance to participate in the event.
  • Required permits and approvals required to showcase the project as part of the event participation opportunity.
• Documentation and archiving:
  • A general framework for the project that includes a detailed explanation, in addition to prototypes and proposals such as drawn scenarios, images, written texts, drawings, etc.
  • Permits and approvals required to display the project for documentation and archiving.
• Creativity and production:
  • The general framework of the project includes a detailed explanation, prototypes and proposals such as a drawn scenario, images, written texts, drawings.
  • Promotional film if available.

For more information, visit Ministry of Culture.