Alserkal Arts Foundation’s inaugural Research Grants are now open for applications. Announced earlier this year, the Research Grants are designed to support radical, innovative, and contemporary research that challenges traditional modes of practice in a variety of fields. Unbounded by geography, the grants place an emphasis on interdisciplinary proposals, comparative studies, and societal discourses that link the arts, humanities and social sciences in the context of the MEASA. Applications are welcome until 31 January 2020.

The Foundation seeks applications especially from those individuals and collectives that dynamically aim to disrupt conservative boundaries between conventional disciplines. Potential grant awardees can include, but are in no way limited to,

multidisciplinary visual and sonic artists, architects, writers of fiction and non- fiction, independent publishers, documentary filmmakers and educators, geographers, historians, economists and social scientists. Applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing broad, intersectional and experimental approaches to research in their respective fields are preferred.

Applications to Alserkal Arts Foundation’s Research Grants will open on 1 October 2019, and will remain open till 31 January 2020.

Research grants are awarded as follows:

- Grants for individuals - up to US$5,000

- Grants for duos/collectives - up to US$10,000

- Grants for independent publishers - up to US$10,000

(Image credit: Tower Fish Pigeon, METASITU, Alserkal Residency, part of Alserkal Arts Foundation. Photo courtesy Alserkal, credit Jandri Angelo Aguilar.)

-ENDS-

Press enquiries:

Rania Habib

rania@alserkalavenue.ae

+97150 100 1105

About Alserkal
Founded by Emirati businessman and patron, Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, in 2007, Alserkal is a socially responsible cultural enterprise, which is deeply engaged with the arts locally, regionally and internationally. Through Alserkal Avenue, its renowned cultural district of contemporary art galleries, non-profit organisations and homegrown businesses, Alserkal has cultivated a creative economy in Dubai, supporting cultural production and spearheading disruptive business models, including the OMA-designed Concrete, a state-of-the-art exhibitions and alternative space. In addition, Alserkal supports public art commissions, residencies, research grants and educational programmes through its non-profit, Alserkal Arts Foundation.

About Alserkal Arts Foundation
The Alserkal Arts Foundation supports socially engaged, multi-disciplinary practices and facilitates cross-cultural exchange through its four core initiatives: public art commissions, residencies, research grants and educational programmes. The

Foundation offers cultural practitioners – either based in Dubai, or whose practice critically investigates themes pertinent to the region's artistic community – opportunities for research, scholarship, and artistic production. All of Alserkal Arts Foundation’s activities are supported by Alserkal, an Emirati family business spearheaded by Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal.

About Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal
Emirati businessman and patron Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal is the founder of Alserkal, a socially responsible cultural enterprise, and its initiatives: Alserkal Avenue, a renowned cultural district based in Al Quoz, the industrial area of Dubai; Alserkal Arts Foundation, which supports cultural practitioners in and from the MEASA region through four pillars (public art commissions, residencies, research grants, and educational programmes), and Concrete, a multi-disciplinary space commissioned by Alserkal, and the first building in the UAE to be completed by Rem Koolhaas’ OMA. Concrete is shortlisted for the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Abdelmonem serves on the boards of numerous art institutions around the world, including the British Museum's Contemporary and Modern Middle Eastern Art Acquisition Group; the Tate's Middle East and North Africa Acquisition Committee; and the Guggenheim's Middle Eastern Circle. He is also a Supporter of the Centre Pompidou International Circle - Middle East.