Sharjah Art Foundation Publishing Grant: How to Apply

 

Open Call: Sharjah Art Foundation Publishing Grant 2025—2026

Sharjah Art Foundation is inviting cultural producers around the world to submit proposals for its Publishing Grant 2025—2026. This initiative supports experimental, innovative publishing projects that bring fresh perspectives to art, culture, and knowledge-making — with a special focus on underrepresented voices and contexts.

The Foundation has set aside a total of USD 30,000 to be awarded to multiple grantees. Each project can request up to USD 15,000, and the deadline for applications is 17 August 2025 at 11:59 pm UAE time (GMT +3).

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Art and culture scholars, translators, writers, editors
• Independent publishers, publishing houses, collectives, and non-profit institutions
• Practitioners working in or focusing on the Global South, Indigenous and diasporic communities, or other structurally marginalised contexts globally

Past grantees have hailed from Palestine, India, Ghana, and Kuwait.

What They’re Looking For

Projects should:

• Be experimental or research-based, challenging mainstream publishing practices
• Have a focused theme or topic relevant to contemporary theoretical and artistic discussions
• Be well-developed at the time of application
• Be completed in time for the launch at Focal Point — Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual art book fair in November/December 2026

Formats may include graphic novels, artist books, research dossiers, translations, or reprints of historical materials.

Financial and Practical Support

• Research and writing fees
• Editing, translation, design, printing, and shipping to Sharjah
• Image reproduction and licensing

In addition to funding, winners will receive:

• A round-trip economy-class ticket and hotel accommodation in Sharjah to launch their work at Focal Point
• Marketing and distribution support through the Foundation’s networks
• Access to a pool of editors, translators, designers, and printers

Important Rules of the Sharjah Art Foundation Publishing Grant

• Applicants must submit only unpublished projects that have not been issued with an ISBN or sold commercially.
• Applicants must produce projects in Arabic and/or English; they may include a third language at their own expense.
• The Foundation will retain between 20–40% of the print run for distribution in libraries, institutions, and its shop.
• They will not pay royalties for sales through its distribution channels.
• The Sharjah Foundation will reject projects in the categories of fiction, drama, poetry, biographies, exhibition catalogues, and monographs linked to other institutions.

Why This Matters

For writers, editors, and independent publishers, this is a rare opportunity to secure both financial and institutional backing for ambitious, non-commercial work. If you’re considering applying, it might also be worth exploring ways to sharpen your editorial and production skills. You can start by reading 5 Good Reasons To Take a Publishing Course, and, since time management is key for grant projects, check out 5 Effective Ways To Increase Your Productivity as a Writer.

How to Apply to the Sharjah Art Foundation Publishing Grant

Submit applications online via the official form.

Sharjah Art Foundation will announce the winners during Focal Point in late 2025. If your project challenges the status quo and contributes to the diversity of publishing, this could be your chance to bring it to life.