What we are doing

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Orbitals is a program that takes four curators and researchers to an international location to learn about a different artistic context. During a ten-day guided research trip, the participants, along with members of Mophradat’s team, meet and share experiences with peers in the art scenes and communities they are visiting.

This year’s edition of Orbitals, taking place in November, will be an introduction to some of the art activity in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The participants will travel together to meet artists and curators, as well as art institutions in both cities. The trip will focus on questions around the right to land, art’s relationship to gentrification, and how to occupy space. Mophradat will cover airfare, travel insurance, and visa costs, and provide participants with accommodation and per diems.

Past editions visited in Delhi and Chandigarh (2019) and Mexico City (2018).

Specific eligibility criteria

In addition to complying with the general eligibility criteria that you can read here, please note the following:

• Applicants must be curators and/or researchers from the field of contemporary arts (all disciplines are welcome)
• Applicants must be from or living in the Arab world
• Applicants must have at least five years’ professional work experience in a field of contemporary arts
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate prior experience working on international projects, exchange, or collaboration in their home country or abroad
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate their engagement with a specific project that they are developing
• Applicants must be available to participate for the entire duration of the trip, and commit to taking part in all its activities and complete schedule

Process

• All applicants, whether selected or not, will receive a response to their applications by September 10, 2022.
• The participants will be selected by Mophradat and one external advisor.
• During the trip or shortly thereafter, the group will be asked to produce a collective narrative in a format of their choosing that reflects on their trip and shares with a broader public some of the knowledge they have encountered.

*Please note that due to the high volume of applications and the confidentiality of the selection process, Mophradat cannot provide individual feedback explaining why an application was not selected.

For any questions, please email grants [at] mophradat [dot] org.