Open Call for Production Awards Grant Program

Deadline: 19-Oct-2026

The Production Awards Program supports young artists and writers from the Arab region who are developing new creative projects in literature, visual arts, music and sound art, performing arts, and cinema. The programme awards up to 25 grants annually, with funding of up to €13,000 for cinema, €8,500 for performing arts, visual arts, and music and sound art, and €6,500 for literature. What Is the Production Awards Program? The Production Awards Program is an annual funding opportunity designed to support emerging artists and writers under 35 from the Arab region. The programme provides production funding for new creative works across five artistic disciplines: - Literature. - Visual arts. - Music and sound art. - Performing arts. - Cinema. The programme supports both artists living in the Arab region and eligible artists from the Arab diaspora. Why Does the Production Awards Program Matter? Young artists often face financial barriers when developing and producing ambitious creative projects. The Production Awards Program provides direct financial support that can help emerging creators move projects from development into production. The programme encourages artistic experimentation and supports a broad range of contemporary creative practices, including traditional, digital, multidisciplinary, experimental, and immersive forms. How Many Projects Are Supported? The programme supports up to 25 projects each year. The grants are distributed equally across five disciplines: - 5 literature projects - 5 visual arts projects - 5 music and sound art projects - 5 performing arts projects - 5 cinema projects This structure allows artists from different creative fields to compete within their relevant discipline. Who Is Eligible to Apply? The programme is open to young artists and writers under the age of 35 from the Arab region.

Eligible applicants may be:

- Living in an Arab country. - Members of the Arab diaspora. - Individual artists. - Writers and creative practitioners working within one of the supported disciplines. The stated birth-date eligibility range is January 1992 through December 2011. Applicants should carefully check the programme’s current age requirements when preparing their application. What Creative Disciplines Are Supported? The Production Awards Program supports five main disciplines. Literature Literature grants support the development and production of written creative works.

Eligible formats can include:

- Novels. - Memoirs. - Biographies. - Graphic novels. - Short stories. - Poetry collections. - Theatre texts. The maximum literature grant is €6,500. Visual Arts Visual arts projects can cover a wide range of artistic formats and contemporary practices.

Examples include:

- Individual artworks. - Exhibitions. - Installations. - Art books. - Comics. - Sculpture. - Engraving. - Photography. - Light art. - Video art. - Virtual reality. - Immersive art. - Interactive art. The maximum visual arts grant is €8,500. Music and Sound Art The programme supports both conventional and experimental music and sound-based projects.

Examples include:

- Music albums. - Experimental music. - Sound projects. - Sound installations. - Live concerts. - Music-related visual projects. The maximum grant is €8,500. Performing Arts Performing arts grants can support a range of live and multidisciplinary creative projects.

Eligible forms can include:

- Dance. - Theatre. - Multidisciplinary performances. - Other performance-based artistic projects. The maximum performing arts grant is €8,500. Cinema Cinema grants support the production and post-production of different types of films.

Supported formats include:

- Short films. - Medium-length films. - Feature films. - Fiction films. - Documentaries. - Animated films. - Experimental films. The maximum cinema grant is €13,000, making cinema the discipline with the highest available award. How Much Funding Is Available? Maximum grant amounts vary by artistic discipline.

- Performing arts: Up to €8,500.

- Visual arts: Up to €8,500.

- Music and sound art: Up to €8,500.

- Literature: Up to €6,500.

- Cinema: Up to €13,000.

Applicants should request an amount that is appropriate for the proposed project’s actual production requirements. What Types of Projects Can Be Funded? The programme focuses on the development and production of new creative works. Depending on the discipline, supported projects can include: - New literary works. - New artworks. - Exhibitions and installations. - New music productions. - Sound-based projects. - Performances. - Short and feature films. - Experimental and digital art. - Immersive and interactive projects. The project should have a clear creative concept and a realistic pathway toward development or production. What Projects Are Not Eligible? The programme does not support every type of artistic or cultural activity.

Funding is not intended for:

- Reproduction of previously produced projects. - Reproduction of previously presented projects. - Websites. - Workshops. - Support for entities or organisations. - Academic research. - Art research-centred projects. - Television series. Applicants should therefore ensure that the proposed activity is primarily a new creative production project rather than an organisational, educational, academic, or previously completed activity. How to Prepare a Strong Application

Step 1: Choose the Appropriate Discipline

Determine whether the project belongs under: - Literature. - Visual arts. - Music and sound art. - Performing arts. - Cinema. The project should have a clear connection to the selected discipline.

Step 2: Define the Creative Project

Explain exactly what you intend to create.

Clearly describe:

- The artistic concept. - The creative format. - The project’s objectives. - The intended audience. - The development or production process. - The expected final outcome.

Step 3: Demonstrate Artistic Potential

Applicants should communicate what makes the project distinctive.