The Teaching Artist Fellowship Application

2026–2027 OPEN CALL!

The Teaching Artist Fellowship is a structured five-month residency based in Art Studio, Manarat Al Saadiyat. The Fellowship is designed for artists who value teaching and participation within their artistic practice and are interested in developing practice-based pedagogical approaches to engaging with communities.

The programme offers teaching artists the opportunity to explore the intertwined nature of their creative and teaching practice by experimenting with and delivering programmes within a vibrant learning environment. Selected fellows participate in professional development seminars delivered by leading regional and international experts and receive training on designing meaningful educational experiences while learning how to effectively communicate their practice to a range of audiences.

At the end of the fellowship, artists can expect to build effective communication skills, facilitation experience, and a robust teaching portfolio.

What is a Teaching Artist?

Teaching artists exist at the intersection of arts and education, integrating their practice and linking their creative process with arts-based learning. Combining pedagogy and artistry, they possess deep knowledge in their art form, engage in continuous creative exploration, and work in various environments to serve local communities.

Streams

1. Facilitation Training

Through exercises, discussions, presentations, mock workshops, and lesson observations, fellows will receive professional development training, guidance, and feedback on designing and planning single and multi-part learning experiences, as well as effectively communicating their practice to various audiences.

The Fellowship is comprised of four teaching cycles. Each cycle provides the opportunity for teaching and facilitation experience while also allowing for knowledge exchange among peers in a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives and expertise can be shared.

2. Peer Mentorship

The cohort is mentored by established artists who support the creation of deeper connections between their creative and teaching practices. Working both individually and as a group, the peer mentorship element helps contextualize and ground methodologies around intended audiences and communities, while providing fellows with opportunities to invent and expand their toolkits to make engagement more meaningful.

3. Discussion Seminar

This theory-intensive workshop, based around readings, lectures, and discussions, provides an opportunity for critical discourse and dialogue around contemporary artistic, curatorial, and institutional practices.

Led by an established curator and critic, and convened with a wider circle of artists and cultural practitioners, the seminar aims to question and challenge established methods of the art industry while exploring innovative possibilities for societal engagement.

Structure & Format

Cohort 7: September 2026 – February 2027

Cohort 8: March 2027 – August 2027

Teaching Artists Will Be Provided

  • Access to dedicated studios within Art Studio, including facilities, equipment, and art materials
  • Professional development seminars by leading experts
  • Mentorship by established teaching artists (one-on-one and group sessions)
  • Participation in a theory-based workshop led by a curator and critic
  • Opportunities to design and deliver learning programmes
  • Monthly stipend

Previous Cohorts

Cohort 5: September 2025 – February 2026
Abdelghani Alnahawi, Ana Escobar Saavedra, Arnold Barretto, Fatima Uzdenova, Nada Almosa, Nagham Hammoush

Cohort 6: March 2026 – August 2026
Asma Khoory, Faissal El-Malak, Hala Abora, Karine Roche, Salmah Almasoori, Sarah Afaneh

Facilitation Training: Melanie Rick and Sean Layne, Focus 5
Focus 5 provided professional development in arts integration and instructional best practices.

Peer Mentorship: Issam Kourbaj, Jumana Emil Abboud, Cristiana de Marchi

Discussion Seminar: Site and Scale by Duygu Demir

Cohort 3: September 2024 – February 2025
Aya Afaneh, Sarah Ahmed, Tarek El-Kassouf

Cohort 4: April 2025 – August 2025
Hana El-Sagini, Lama Altakruri, Richi Bhatia

Discussion Seminar: Vernaculars by Murtaza Vali

Cohort 1: September 2023 – February 2024
Athar Jaber, Chafa Ghaddar, Mahshid Rafiei

Cohort 2: February 2024 – August 2024
Eman AlHashemi, Majd Alloush, Nasser Alzayani

Discussion Seminar: Against Methodology by Sabih Ahmed

Eligibility

  • UAE-based artists working in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, or ceramics
  • MFA or evidence of sustained studio practice in the last five years
  • Experience facilitating workshops in art or community settings
  • Demonstrated interest in community engagement

Application Requirements

Submit as a single PDF to: MAbualsaid@dctabudhabi.ae

  • CV (max. 2 pages)
  • Cover letter (interest, goals, long-term impact)
  • Project proposal (two workshops for different audiences)
  • Portfolio (max. 10 works, including teaching experience)
  • Emirates ID copy
  • Passport copy

Application Deadline

May 24, 2026