Wijhat (Destinations) – Travel Grants for Arab Artists and Cultural Actors

Deadline: There is no single deadline; applications are accepted all year. Evaluation happens in three annual rounds:

• Round 1 (February): Submission deadline 16 January, 16:00 Beirut time; grantees announced 28 February.
• Round 2 (June): Submission deadline 29 May, 16:00 Beirut time; grantees announced 1 July.
• Round 3 (October): Submission deadline 17 September, 16:00 Beirut time; grantees announced 31 October.

Target Audience: Individual artists and groups from all artistic disciplines (performing arts, visual arts, literature, music, etc.), as well as cultural actors (independent or part of cultural initiatives/organizations) from the Arab region, who need to travel inside the region or abroad for professional and cultural purposes. Purpose of the Grant:

• Participation in artistic and cultural fairs.
• Artistic residencies.
• Forums, conferences and seminars.
• Workshops that support creative and artistic production.
• Training and capacity-building workshops in the arts and culture fields.

Eligible Travel Directions:

• From an Arab country to another Arab country.
• From a non-Arab country to an Arab country.
• From an Arab country to a country outside the Arab region.

Grant Amount and Coverage:

• Up to €7,000 per trip.
• International travel tickets.
• Visa costs, where applicable.
• Accommodation during the activity period.
• Partial coverage of living expenses (considered travel support, not full living costs).
• Internal transportation at the destination.

Program Overview: Wijhat (Destinations) was created to address key challenges that Arab artists and cultural actors face when traveling for professional purposes, including insufficient funding, visa obstacles, and limited networking opportunities with potential partners. The program supports travel within the Arab region and to destinations abroad, helping grantees present their work to new audiences and engage in diverse cultural exchange experiences. Culture Resource offers around 25–30 grants per year across three rounds. The grant covers travel tickets, visa costs, accommodation, internal transportation, and partial living expenses for the period of the activity or event indicated in the application. Additional Notes and Visa Support:

• Culture Resource can issue a recommendation letter to the relevant embassy to support the grantee’s visa application, after the grant contract is signed.
• The program does not specify a fixed duration for travel or stay; it only covers the listed expenses for the duration of the activity/event stated in the application.

Program Schedule and How Rounds Work:

• Applications are accepted year-round, but screening and selection take place in the three rounds above.
• Screening and evaluation start immediately after each round’s deadline; late applications are not considered for that round.
• Eligible applications received after a deadline are automatically moved to the next round’s selection process.
• Grantee names cannot be announced before the set announcement date for each round.

How to Choose the Right Round:

• Compare your intended travel date with the announcement date of the round you plan to apply for; the activity must be scheduled after the results are announced.
• Submit your application before that round’s submission deadline (16 January, 29 May or 17 September at 16:00 Beirut time).

Selection Process:

• Applications are first screened for eligibility and completeness, following the application guidelines (form, documents, requirements).
• Eligible applications are then assessed by an independent three‑member jury, which changes every round.
• Jury members are artists and cultural actors with recognized experience in Arab and international cultural scenes, from diverse disciplines.
• The jury evaluates applications based on established criteria, with particular attention to the intended destinations and types of activities.

Contact for Inquiries:

• Wijhat program team: wijhat@mawred.org

Visit the original program page here

➜ النسخة العربية (ARABIC)