Open Call for Writers & Researchers
Commissioning Body: The Arab British Centre & Esmat Publishing List
Project: 3oubour: A River Between Mountains
Location: Morocco, Fez & London (with online participation)
Number of Commissions: 4 writers/researchers
Fee: £150 (includes participation in at least one related event)
Languages: English or Arabic
Deadline: 13 September 2025 (midnight, Morocco time)
Delivery Date: December 2025
About the Project
This commission forms part of 3oubour: A River Between Mountains, a project inviting artists to critically consider concepts of technical knowledge and innovation—both as inherited practices and as contemporary reinterpretations. Through online and on-site residencies in Fez, Morocco, artists collaborate with expert artisans to create new commissions, later showcased in Fez and London.
Researchers and writers are invited to produce pieces that explore the historical and contemporary intersections of crafts, technology, and environmental issues in South West Asia and North Africa, focusing on the work of one of the participating artists.
Scope of Work
Commissioned writers will:
- Produce a piece of 1000–1500 words (essay or experimental format) delivered by December 2025.
- Develop a short pitch by the application deadline, outlining the craft, artist, and theme they wish to explore.
- Engage critically with the intersections of craft, art history, technology, colonialism, ecology, and climate change in SWANA.
- Write from September 2025 onwards, after the artists’ residency in Fez.
- Potentially participate in one online or in-person event (included in the £150 fee).
Suggested Themes
Applicants may propose ideas that highlight:
- Craft histories and their intersections with art, industry, and technology.
- Environmental and ecological concerns connected to craft practices.
- Colonial legacies in craft, trade, and material use.
- Local and global knowledge systems embedded in craft traditions.
Artists & Keywords
- Dima Srouji: Plaster, Bronze, Glass, Mother of Pearl, Qamariya, Architecture/Urbanism.
- Alia Hamaoui: Leather industry, byproducts, leather trade.
- Monya Riachi: Clay, Zellij (tilework), Sculpture, Land politics, The Body & Earth.
- World War Water: Water, Irrigation, Performance, The Body, Conflict.
- Nabil Himich: Architectural miniatures, Pottery, Wood, Plaster, Sound, Interiority & exteriority, Qubba (domes).
- Mehdi Ouahmane: Copper, Metal, Digital work, Mythological figures, Technology, Video games.
How to Apply
Applications must include:
- A short pitch (up to 400 words).
- Format of the proposed piece (essay, experimental, hybrid, etc.).
- A short bio.
- Links to previous writing or essay work.
Submissions must be made through the official application portal by 13 September 2025 (midnight, Morocco time).
Note: The organizers reserve the right not to publish work if it deviates significantly from the approved pitch or does not meet quality expectations.
