Residencies
Darat al Funun’s artists-in-residence program was initiated to create a stimulating environment in which artists can explore new fields and generate opportunities for creative and instructional encounters. Since its inception in 1995, Darat al Funun has extended invitations to artists to work, exhibit, and conduct workshops in their given field of expertise. Many artists from the Arab world and abroad have participated in this program.
Darat al Funun has cooperated in exchange residencies programs with international institutions such as the UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists Program (1999-2007) and Pro Helvetia, the Arts Council of Switzerland (2004-2012).
In 2014 we started new artist exchange programs with the Fondazione Fotografia Modena in Modena, Italy, and with Nuova Icona in Venice, Italy.
SUMMER ACADEMY (1999-2003)
The Summer Academy offered a key opportunity to artists from the Arab world to study and work with their peers under supervision of Berlin-based Syrian artist Marwan.
The intensive platform not only focused on technical skills, but immersed the participants in a setting that stimulated the entire artistic process from conception to creation.
In 2019, Darat al Funun relaunched the Summer Academy with a new concept, offering 10-15 participants from the region the space to develop their practice within a critical setting that encourages experimentation, knowledge-sharing, and communal learning.