Fellowship Programme

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PARA Fellowship Programme

Institution: Sharjah Art Foundation (in collaboration with Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, Asia Art Archive, and Contemporary And)
Deadline: 20 July 2025
Location: Asia and Africa (remote and residency in Sharjah, UAE)

Emerging and mid-career art writers living and working in Asia or Africa are invited to apply for PARA, a fellowship supporting the development and publication of new critical writing on contemporary art. PARA encourages situated, critical approaches that question traditional art criticism and engage diverse cultural perspectives.

Selected fellows (5 total) will:

Publish two pieces of art criticism (one in a compilation, one in an anthology)
Participate in biweekly online seminars and tailored mentorship sessions with established critics
Attend a fully funded, one-week residency in Sharjah (flights, visa, accommodation, per diem included)
Build transnational networks with peers, editors, and academics

Eligibility:

Cultural practitioners (writers, artists, curators, journalists, academics) based in Asia or Africa
Able to commit to all program phases: Jan–Jun 2026 online, March 2026 residency, and June–Aug 2026 editorial work

Application requirements:

Primary text: unpublished critical writing (max. 1000 words) responding to artwork/exhibition seen in 2024–2025 (English or with English translation)
Two published writing samples
CV (max. 2 pages)

Funding & Fees:

Writer’s fees totaling 5000 AED
Residency costs fully covered