Research and Practice Platform - Art Jameel

Overview

Art Jameel and Dubai Culture present the Research and Practice Platform 2026, a rapid-response grants programme to support creative practitioners in Dubai and across the UAE affected by the recent geopolitical crisis. The programme offers grants of AED 10,000 without prescriptive project requirements. Recipients gain access to mentorship, professional development, networking, and future programming opportunities within the UAE's creative ecosystem.

Who Can Apply

• UAE national or long-term resident
• Valid Emirates ID and UAE bank account
• Aged 18 years or above
• Based in the UAE at the time of application
• Actively engaged in a creative or cultural practice

Eligible Disciplines

• Visual arts and interdisciplinary practices
• Design, illustration, and architecture
• Photography and film
• Writing, publishing, and research
• Music and performance
• Curatorial and cultural production
• Digital and emerging creative practices
• Fashion, craft, and material practices

Career Stage

• Emerging practitioners
• Mid-career creatives
• Established practitioners
• Freelancers and independent practitioners
• Part-time or interdisciplinary professionals
• Practitioners transitioning into creative practice

Award

AED 10,000 grant per applicant.

Key Dates

• Applications accepted from Wednesday, May 20, 2026
• Deadline: July 31, 2026
• Rolling assessment process

Selection Criteria

• Extent to which applicant has been affected by current conditions and how the grant would support continuity of creative practice
• Applicant's contribution to and commitment to the local creative community, collaboration, and UAE's cultural landscape
• How the award may contribute to wider benefits beyond the individual
• Whether proposed use of funds would provide practical and meaningful support to the applicant's practice

How to Apply

Submit via online form in English or Arabic. All applicants receive acknowledgement of receipt; only successful applicants will be contacted.