AFAC Performing Arts Program
Grants for Arab performing arts practitioners -- theater, dance, and performance -- administered by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture through an annual open call.
Overview
The AFAC Performing Arts Program is one of nine open-call grant programs administered by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), the pan-Arab nonprofit organization that supports artists and cultural organizations across the Arab world. The Performing Arts program provides grants to Arab theater directors, choreographers, playwrights, and performance artists who are developing or producing original work with a strong artistic vision and cultural significance to Arab audiences.
AFAC was established in 2007 with a coalition of international and Arab institutional funders, with the mission of building independent arts funding infrastructure in the Arab world. The Performing Arts program reflects AFAC's belief that theater and dance are vital cultural practices that require dedicated institutional support to thrive in contexts where state arts funding is limited, politicized, or absent.
What It Funds
The Performing Arts program funds the development and production of original theater productions, dance performances, and interdisciplinary performance work by Arab artists. Both individual artists and cultural organizations are eligible, depending on the specific program track. Development grants support research, dramaturgy, and early production preparation. Production grants support rehearsal, staging, technical design, and performance costs.
Grant amounts vary by cycle and project scope, typically in the range of $10,000 to $30,000 for individual production grants. Applications are submitted in English, French, or Arabic.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Arab citizens or citizens of Arab-speaking countries as defined by AFAC's eligibility criteria. The program is open to individual artists and cultural organizations. Each program runs on its own annual open-call cycle with a distinct deadline.
Filmmakers and media artists whose work has a strong performance or installation component may also be eligible, depending on how their project is framed. Practitioners whose work sits at the intersection of performance and screen media should review the Performing Arts and Cinema program criteria carefully to determine the best fit.
Who Should Apply
Arab theater directors, choreographers, playwrights, and performance artists developing or producing original performance work with genuine artistic ambition and cultural significance. The program is particularly relevant for artists whose work does not fit the commercial entertainment model and who need independent institutional support to develop serious new work.
See Also
For understanding how arts funding connects to film and media distribution in the Arab world, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For the AFAC Cinema program supporting Arab fiction and experimental films, see the AFAC Cinema Program directory entry.
