Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) has initiated a Professional Development Programme designed for emerging curators and art professionals from organisations and institutions across Africa, Middle East, and Asia. The Programme will centre around SAF’s annual March Meeting beginning in 2026. Grantees will be invited to attend the March Meeting and will be offered access to a tailored programme aimed at supporting their professional development and establishing new peer networks.

Space118 Art Foundation is supporting an invitation for two Indian curators to join this programme. Grantees will be selected through an Open Call.

Benefits:

• A fully paid research trip for selected applicants to join the Sharjah Art Foundation’s Professional Development Programme and March Meeting (MM) for 7–8 days (25 March – 1st April 2026).
• Flights and transportation to the Emirate of Sharjah
• Accommodation and food
• A daily stipend
• Access to Sharjah Art Foundation’s extensive institutional networks and resources

Programme Highlights:

March Meeting is an annual convening of art professionals and institutions conceived to foster networking, connection and the exchange of ideas and expertise. Taking place over three to five days, this rich annual programme is more intimate than a formal conference, with the scholarly rigour of a symposium alongside informal opportunities for gathering and critical reflection.

March Meeting characteristically includes the following elements:

• Conference, including keynotes, panel discussions, lectures and conversations
• Breakout and workshop sessions
• Lunches, dinners and networking opportunities
• Film screenings, performances and music events
• Reading rooms and book display

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indian nationals holding an Indian passport
• Professionals with 5–10 years of curatorial experience
• No age limit

Required Documents:

• In order to apply for the grant, the following documents need to be submitted to Space118 Art Foundation:
• Your CV / resume (not more than 1000 words)
• A digital scan of your Indian passport (front and back pages)
• Your statement of motivation and potential contribution (500 words)
• Your portfolio: A copy of the most relevant materials for past curatorial activities including exhibitions and essays (at max. 10 pages)
• Two letters of recommendation from peers/ gallerists/ fellow curators of legitimate institutes in the art industry. The letters must have the name of the referee, their email ID, mobile number (optional).

Application Process:

All the above documents must be submitted in English and all attachments should be in PDF format, in one single email. Each pdf must be named appropriately. Multiple emails are not encouraged.

The email subject should be: Name of applicant, Name of the Grant. For example: Disha Nagda, Space118 Art Foundation Curatorial Research Grant, 2026.

Timeline:

• Application Opens: December 1, 2025
• Application Deadline: December 20, 2025, 12:00 pm
• Announcement of Results: January 2026
• Zoom presentation to SAF and Space118 Art Foundation: Early July 2026
• Workshop date (at IAF) – February 2027

To apply, please send your application email and the above documents to [email protected]