Thirty years ago, we had a vision for a Home for the arts and artists from the Arab world. We imagined our Home, Darat al Funun, as a hub for artistic practices, innovation, critical discourse and creativity, and as an oasis for artists and creative minds in the midst of the turmoil surrounding us. Artists, performers, architects, designers, archaeologists, researchers, poets, writers, musicians, and filmmakers believed in our dream.

Today, Darat al Funun is housed in six restored historical buildings, with archaeological remains in the garden. Over the years, we organised exhibitions for both established and emerging artists. Our activities included artist talks, performances, film screenings, plays, poetry readings, and concerts. We launched an annual Summer Academy, equipped and ran multidisciplinary art workshops, initiated an exchange residency program, opened The Lab for experimental art projects, established a Fellowship for the academic study of Arab art, and much more.

Starting around the millennium, the world as we know it imploded. Wars brought political and socio-cultural upheavals, population transfers, identity crises, and environmental disasters. Lost causes still await resolution. The internet age and social media accelerated globalisation.

We now invite artists of all disciplines, as engaged witnesses, to pause and reflect, to re-imagine our world and reinvent your narrative. In his poem To A Young Poet, Mahmoud Darwish challenges us by saying “Truth is black, write over it / with a mirage’s light”. Darat al Funun invites you to write with light and participate in our 30th anniversary program by submitting concept papers and proposals reflecting on these issues with respect to art, social and political issues, the environment, or what at Darat al Funun inspires you.

Up to thirty artists will be selected from applicants to exhibit during three main exhibition phases starting in February 2018, together forming a constellation of new narratives and interrogations.

In addition to our exhibition program, a full year’s program of related talks and events, educational activities, and publications is planned.

DEADLINE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2017

Please see the Information for Applicants below for the terms and conditions, and on how to submit your entry. For enquiries please contact: 30years@daratalfunun.org.

* From To A Young Poet by Mahmoud Darwish, first published in 2010. Translation by Fady Joudah.

Information for Applicants

To be considered for inclusion in our 30th anniversary exhibition program in 2018, please provide us with the following information:

1.     Your name/address/contact details (if a group, please identify the main contact person).

2.     Short artist statement with background and motivation, including a brief description of your connection to, or interest in, Darat al Funun.

3.     Description of your work or proposal (approximately 500-1,000 words; you can add sketches and/or images if needed).

4.     An estimated budget and rough production and/or installation timeline. Please specify any times you are unavailable for the year 2018.

Terms and conditions

The Darat al Funun team will work with each selected artist on realising and exhibiting their project, using state of the art in-house and locally available equipment and materials. Our team will also assist you with production and (de)installation according to an agreed upon final production plan, budget, and timeline. Darat al Funun will provide some funding to cover production costs. We will offer accommodation in one of our residency flats and a per diem.

All works must either be produced locally, or transferred digitally. We are not able to ship works to or from Jordan.

The deadline for submissions is 15 September 2017.

Email all entries in English or in Arabic to: 30years@daratalfunun.org

Successful applicants will be contacted to discuss their entries from 15 October 2017.