From Darb 1718 to the Rijksakademie: a guide to artist residencies open to Egyptians now

🖌️ Sometimes all an artist needs is a quiet space, enough time to work, and a new environment that helps them see their ideas differently. That’s precisely what artist residencies offer — a temporary escape from the pressure of deadlines and commissions, and a chance to think, experiment, and develop new work. This week’s edition of the Enterprise guide brings together a selection of residencies open to Egyptian artists, including some currently accepting applications and others opening soon.

Residencies in Cairo and the Arab region

If you’d rather stay close to Cairo, or your project is rooted in a local context, these are the options closest to home.

#1- Out of the Circle AIR: This residency hosts artists and researchers from around the world whose projects connect to Cairo, offering a private room and workspace in the city center, alongside a program that gives residents access to the local arts scene and Egyptian cultural institutions.

📅 Deadline: 9 October 2026.

⏳ Duration: Three weeks to one month.

💰 Cost: USD 350 per week, covering accommodation, workspace, and local support.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the organization’s website.

#2- MedRX Residency: Aimed at early- to mid-career Egyptian artists working in digital practices, moving image, and new technologies, this residency offers space for work and experimentation in Cairo, access to equipment, including cameras and VR headsets, and meetings and discussions with artists and curators.

📅 Deadline: Varies throughout the year.

⏳ Duration: Six months.

💰 Cost: Partially funded; no accommodation provided.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the Medrar for Contemporary Art website.

#3- Darb 1718: For artists looking to work within a distinctive craft and archaeological context, Darb 1718 offers a private studio in Fustat, close to the Hanging Church and the historic pottery village. The residency is open to artists, writers, researchers, and curators seeking an independent arts space at the intersection of craft and contemporary practice.

📅 Deadline: Open year-round.

⏳ Duration: One week to six months.

💰 Cost: From EUR 12 per night for a single room, up to around EUR 550 per month for a private studio, according to one artist-in-residence speaking to EnterpriseAM.

🔗 How to apply: Contact [email protected].

#4- Ashkal Alwan: One of the region’s most established residency programs, Ashkal Alwan hosts a small number of artists, writers, and curators each year, giving participants dedicated time to develop and research their projects within Beirut’s artistic and cultural environment.

📅 Deadline: Rolling applications accepted year-round.

⏳ Duration: Two to three months.

💰 Cost: Fully funded, including travel, accommodation, and a daily stipend.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the organization’s website.

#5- Mmag Foundation: This Jordanian organization offers artists and cultural practitioners a dedicated workspace to develop their artistic practice and research projects, alongside prospects for peer exchange, mentorship, and public engagement through workshops, performances, and events.

📅 Deadline: Rolling applications accepted year-round.

⏳ Duration: One to nine months.

💰 Cost: Partially funded — studio and accommodation provided; travel and daily allowance not included.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the foundation’s website.

#6- DCS Residency: This program offers residencies across disciplines, with a particular focus on performance and contemporary dance artists working on projects related to place, memory, the body, language, and the environment. Hosted in the Tunisian city of Gabes, it prioritizes Arab artists in the diaspora and provides space for experimentation, research, and engagement with the local context.

📅 Deadline: Varies throughout the year.

⏳ Duration: Three months.

💰 Cost: Fully funded.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the Danseurs Citoyens Sud website.

International residencies

For those looking to broaden their horizons, here are international programs that offer the chance to work within different artistic and cultural environments around the world.

#1- Mophradat Residencies: These programs are designed for artists, writers, and curators from the Arab world, with each residency varying in focus depending on the discipline and international partner — covering performance, music, writing, and more. Participants work with international arts institutions and develop their projects in countries including Belgium and Germany.

📅 Deadline: Varies by program.

⏳ Duration: Typically three weeks to three months, depending on the program.

💰 Cost: Near-fully funded, covering travel, visa, daily allowance, and a contribution to production costs.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the Mophradat website.

#2- Seto Art Residency: This Japanese residency welcomes artists working in painting, photography, film, sound, and collage — no Japanese language required. Three artists are hosted per cycle, based in the coastal city of Ako, with travel, accommodation, and a USD 1k stipend for food and transport provided, alongside translation support when needed.

📅 Deadline: 13 February 2027.

⏳ Residency period: June 2027.

💰 Cost: Fully funded.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the program’s website.

#3- Leighton Artist Studio: Offered by the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, this program comes in three formats — individual, collective, and a photography-specific track — all set in the Canadian mountains. Participants receive a private studio and hotel room, alongside a partial grant that offsets the cost, with the artist covering the remainder.

📅 Deadline: 14 October 2026.

⏳ Residency period: April 2027 to March 2028.

💰 Cost: Partially funded — CAD 1k per week depending on grant type.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the organization’s website.

#4- Cité internationale des arts: A major residency in the heart of Paris open to artists and cultural professionals of all nationalities, offering studio space and accommodation within the institution for the development of research or creative projects. An institutional partner supporting the artist during the residency is required.

📅 Deadline: 8 October 2026.

⏳ Duration: Three, six, or nine months.

💰 Cost: Partially funded, contingent on institutional partner support — covers visa, travel, and a monthly living allowance of at least EUR 1k.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the website.

#5- Rijksakademie: One of the most internationally recognized artist residency programs, the Rijksakademie brings together artists from different nationalities and disciplines within an arts community in Amsterdam. Participants work from dedicated studios and have access to the program’s resources and activities.

📅 Deadline: 1 January 2027.

⏳ Duration: One or two years.

💰 Cost: Fully funded — studio, production budget, and monthly stipend included.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the website.

#6- Akademie Schloss Solitude: Based in a historic palace in Stuttgart converted into a space for artists, researchers, and cultural practitioners, this program welcomes participants from diverse fields, including visual arts, literature, architecture, and the humanities. Residents work on individual and collaborative projects within a multidisciplinary community.

📅 Deadline: Autumn 2027.

⏳ Duration: Six or nine months.

💰 Cost: EUR 1.3k monthly stipend.

🔗 How to apply: Apply via the website.

💡 Additional picks worth knowing about:

• Gasworks Residency: London-based program hosting international artists to develop their practice and projects within an arts community, with varying conditions and duration depending on the program;
• Pro Helvetia: Supports artists and cultural practitioners from the Arab region through exchange and collaboration with Switzerland, offering residencies, grants, and project development prospects depending on the program;
• EFFEA Residency: A cross-border program supporting emerging artists in developing new projects and building professional relationships with arts institutions across different countries;
• Espronceda Institute of Art & Culture: Barcelona-based contemporary arts institution offering residencies of two to 12 weeks, with some programs covering travel and accommodation, alongside multidisciplinary studio spaces;
• Künstlerhaus Schloss Balmoral: International residency for visual artists and curators, set in a historic villa in Bad Ems, Germany, offering four- or eight-month fellowships with a monthly stipend of EUR 1.4k.