Darat al Funun – The Khalid Shoman Foundation is pleased to announce the open call for the Darat al Funun Dissertation Fellowship for Modern and Contemporary Arab Art 2026-2027. Established in 2011, the Fellowship supports advanced research on modern and contemporary art from the Arab world. Fellows are invited to pursue their research, deliver a public talk or workshop, and take part in Darat al Funun’s broader cultural activities.
Award and Support
The Fellowship offers financial support of up to USD 10,000 for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences. This funding is intended to cover travel and living expenses during the residency. In addition, Darat al Funun provides housing and working space to support the fellows’ work. One or two fellowships will be awarded for the 2026/2027 cycle.
Residency Period
The fellowship residency spans 4-6 months at the Darat al Funun premises between February 2026 and January 2027, excluding Darat al Funun’s summer break in August. Upon completion of their dissertation, fellows are kindly requested to provide a copy of their dissertation to be documented at the Darat al Funun library for private viewing only.
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to students enrolled at universities worldwide. Applicants must have formal dissertation candidacy status by the start of the fellowship, and applications are accepted in either Arabic or English. We especially encourage candidates whose research engages with the role of Darat al Funun’s archive.
Application Materials
Application materials (submit as separate, clearly labeled PDF or DOCX files):
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- Research proposal (project description).
- Preferred period of stay (4–6 months within the fellowship window).
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Writing sample.
- C.V.
- Official transcript.
- Research proposal (project description).
Timeline
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- Application deadline: 21 December 2025.
- Notification of results: 15 January 2026.
- Application deadline: 21 December 2025.
Policies
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- Health insurance: Fellows are responsible for their own health insurance during the residency.
- Library copy: Upon completing the dissertation, fellows are kindly requested to provide a library copy for private viewing only at Darat al Funun.
- Health insurance: Fellows are responsible for their own health insurance during the residency.
Submission
Send all materials by email to fellowship@daratalfunun.org (each file labeled with your name).
For specific inquiries regarding the fellowship, please contact fellowship@daratalfunun.org.