When it comes to traveling for work, whether inside the Arab world or overseas, Arab artists and cultural performers encounter significant obstacles. The biggest ones are a lack of cash to pay trip costs, problems getting visas, and a lack of opportunity to network with groups that could eventually collaborate with us on creative projects in this region. Such issues limit the artists’ opportunities for professional advancement and the expansion of the audiences for their artistic product. Additionally, they limit options for cooperation and knowledge sharing with their regional counterparts, for the worldwide exposure of artists’ works, and for opportunities for cultural and professional engagement with peers beyond the Arab world.
Wijhat (Destinations) was created as a solution to these issues. The initiative offers scholarships of up to €7,000 to Arab artists and cultural figures to cover the cost of their trips either inside the Arab world or to any other location. By enabling the grantees to exhibit their work to new audiences and partake in a variety of cultural exchange opportunities, it helps people become familiar with the creative and cultural products from this region.
In three rounds each year, Wijhat awards 25 to 30 grants. The money is used to pay for travel expenditures, visa fees, lodging, internal transportation, and a portion of living costs. Culture Resource estimates the amount allocated for the partial support for living expenses which should be regarded as travel support rather and should not be presumed to cover living expenses in full during the travel period.
Grant:
Up to €7,000 to cover:
- Travel tickets
- Visa costs
- Accommodation
- Partial coverage of living expenses
- Internal transportation
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be from an Arab country
(regardless of ethnic affiliation and citizenship status). They may reside in the Arab region or abroad. - The country of departure or arrival for an intended travel must be in the Arab region.
The grant is available for individuals as well as for groups (bands, folk troupes, associations, work teams, theatre/dance companies, etc — see the section on applying as a group). - The grant targets:
Artists of all disciplines: live arts, visual arts, literature, music, etc.
Cultural actors, whether working independently or as members or staff of cultural initiatives or organizations.
Examples of potential grantees: playwrights and theater directors, musicians, creative writers, cultural managers, cultural researchers, curators, etc. - The host may not apply on behalf of the invitee. Every artist/group must submit their own application along with the required supporting documents. The host may help an artist/group fill out the application. However, the form itself must be completed by the artist/group, express their point of view and be submitted by them as well.
- Applications from individuals under 18 years old will be accepted on the condition that the application is accompanied by a written letter of consent from a parent or guardian.
- Recipients of a Wijhat grant may not apply again for the mobility grant until at least 16 months (the equivalent of four rounds) have passed since receiving a grant. This period is calculated from the date on which that grant was announced.
- Recipients of any other type of grant from Culture Resource (apart from another mobility grant) may still apply for a grant from the Wijhat program.
Application:
- An official invitation from a partner or host in the country of destination (Note: If there is no formal invitation, the application can still be considered on the condition that the applicant provides proof of acceptance, in principle, as a participant in the intended activity.)
- Photocopy of passport.
- A detailed budget for the travel (the form for this purpose comes with the online application form).
- The program of the activity the applicant intends to participate in (i.e., the festival program, the conference schedule, etc.), if the program is available at the time of application.
- A detailed CV.
- A list of previous works. If these are written works or photographs, samples can be sent in the following formats: a single PDF, Word or Zipped file (not exceeding 4 MB) or 4 JPEG files (not exceeding 1 MB per file). If the previous works are audio or audiovisual recordings, list the website links where these works can be accessed.
