KCAC Residency: Call for Submissions
Application Deadline: 14th July 2025
Shortlist: Rolling – Interview
Notification of Results: Rolling – latest 31st August 2025.
Residency Periods: 2 weeks – 3 months, subject to change based on unique project proposals.
Program Overview
The Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture (KCAC) is pleased to announce the Call for Submissions for our Inaugural Residency Program. The goal of this program is to foster interdisciplinary scholarship, cultural exchange, and artistic expression rooted in Kurdistan narratives, presented through various artistic forms.
Our focus area is cultural resilience, unique forms of preservation, and contemporary expression.
Support: Financial assistance, access to research materials and facilities, mentorship, and opportunities for public projects and exhibitions.
Who Should Apply?
Our target audience is artists, researchers, curators, writers, and cultural practitioners across disciplines. While we prioritize applicants from all parts of Kurdistan and the diaspora, we also welcome international artists with projects that serve Kurdistan’s cultural heritage and contemporary arts.
Project types can range from individual to collaborative projects. Proposals should delve into Kurdistan’s historical and cultural heritage, religious, and social traditions, or examine contemporary Kurdish experience and identity.
We strongly encourage proposals that combine elements and scopes of KCAC’s work.
Residency Details
Hosted at the KCAC Office and in partnership with local institutions, archives, and communities, the residency offers participants time, space, and resources to deepen their practice and share their efforts in knowledge making with KCAC.
Our support includes financial assistance, access to research materials and facilities, mentorship from KCAC’s network, and opportunities for public projects and exhibitions.
You will have access to KCAC’s respective departments (Curated by KCAC, KCAC Archive, Public Impact, Translation and Publication). It is important for submitted projects to align with KCAC’s departmental work. Furthermore, residents are encouraged to contribute to public events or publications, ensuring the network of research and creatives in the region bridge awareness and accessibility. Forms of public engagement include grassroots research and dialogue, exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and accessible publications. and have valuable contributions to our public events or publications.
Residency Tracks
- Artistic Creation and Experimentation:
Focus: Developing new projects under “Curated by KCAC” (exhibitions, audio-visual projects, film, photojournalism).
Applicants: Artists and curators in all disciplines.
- Cultural Research and Writing:
Focus: Cultural reflections and translations of cultural works relevant to KCAC’s mission; critical analysis, interpretation, and documentation for publication.
Topics: Cultural reflections, geographical study, traditional practices, language, literature, etc.
Applicants: Scholars, researchers, and writers.
- Archival Engagement and Preservation:
Focus: Exploring KCAC’s archival collections, contributing to preservation, and developing innovative projects utilizing archival materials (particularly manuscript investigation).
Applicants: Archivists, librarians, and researchers.
- Community-Based Practices:
Focus: Social engagement, collaborative practices, and documentation of community-based practices.
Opportunities: Partner with local communities, develop projects addressing cultural practices upheld by communities and social issues, promote dialogue and exchange.
Applicants: Artists, activists, and community organizers.
Selection: Department Heads will judge applications based on needs and relevance to their yearly missions.
What KCAC Offers
This is a fully funded residency for the project duration (funding details are based on project needs).
The program will offer:
- Stipend for the project’s creative development and implementation.
- Assistance in all local logistics, including accommodation and relationship building.
- Curatorial and research guidance.
- Access to KCAC office facilities.
- Opportunities for public presentations and/or publications.
Desired Applicants
We are looking for individuals or collectives with a deep interest in Kurdistan’s cultural heritage, language, and arts. We strongly encourage proposals demonstrating rigor, creativity, originality, and public engagement and applicants from diverse geographies.
Both emerging and established practitioners are welcome to apply.
Application Requirements
Submission Method: Please make sure to submit your application via email to residency@kcac.org
Required Materials:
Project Proposal: Your project proposal should include an overview of your project objectives, research questions, preferred mediums, frameworks, and budget (maximum 1000 words).
Cover Letter/Statement of Interest: Detailing preferred residency track, period, and work’s interest/relevance to KCAC (maximum 500 words).
Resume or Portfolio
One Reference Letter
Languages Accepted: English and Kurdish (Sorani or Kurmanci)
