AFAC Performing Arts Program

Overview

The AFAC Performing Arts Program provides grants of up to $25,000 for individuals and teams and up to $35,000 for collectives and institutions to support the production and distribution of theater and dance performances in the Arab region. It is one of nine open-call programs administered by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), the pan-Arab nonprofit established in 2007 and based in Beirut, Lebanon. AFAC is the most comprehensive independent funder of arts and culture in the Arab region, with 11 active programs as of 2025.

The Performing Arts program supports classical, folk, and contemporary forms of theater and dance for all age groups. It also funds public and site-specific interventions, performance art, festivals, and training workshops in playwriting, acting, directing, dancing, and choreography.

The 2026 application deadline is April 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM Beirut time (+3 GMT). The Performing Arts program is part of AFAC's first open call, which also includes Creative and Critical Writings, Documentary Film, and Visual Arts grants. Each applicant can submit only one application per open call.

What It Funds

The Performing Arts program funds:

• Production and distribution of original theater and dance performances
• Public and site-specific performance interventions
• Performance art
• Festivals
• Training and workshops in playwriting, acting, directing, dancing, and choreography

Grant amounts by applicant type:

Grant funds can cover research and development phases, materials and production supplies, space and equipment rental, and artistic, technical, and collaborative labor fees. An artist or institutional fee of up to 30% of the total grant amount is permitted. Travel expenses may be covered only when essential to project research or implementation. AFAC does not provide mobility grants. Completed projects and expenses incurred before the grant agreement is signed are not eligible.

For grants above $10,000 that do not cover the full project budget, the grantee must show proof that they have secured at least 50% of the remaining budget and can continue with the project.

2025 Cycle Results

In 2025, AFAC awarded $255,500 in Performing Arts grants to 21 projects. The 2025 first cycle overall distributed over $1 million across 87 projects in Documentary Film ($350,000), Critical and Creative Writing ($160,500), Performing Arts ($255,500), and Visual Arts ($250,000). AFAC received a record-breaking 1,428 applications, a 17.8% increase from the previous year.

The 2025 Performing Arts grantees included practitioners and entities from Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, and Tunisia. Selected projects spanned dance, theater, shadow puppetry, storytelling, music, and multimedia. Many projects stretched performance beyond conventional spaces, staging encounters in streets, community centers, and discursive spaces. The 2025 jury noted prominent themes of identity, migration, war, belonging, and gender-based violence, and observed a need to promote artistic activity beyond major urban centers into villages and rural areas.

Payment Structure

AFAC disburses grants in installments tied to project milestones:

For grants under $10,000: 70% on signature of the grant agreement, 30% on submission and approval of final narrative and financial reports.

For grants above $10,000: 50% on signature (with proof of 50% of remaining project budget secured), 35% after expenditure of at least 80% of the grant amount and approval of interim reports, 15% on approval of final reports.

Eligibility

The Performing Arts grant program is open to:

• Individuals from Arab countries (the 22 member states of the Arab League), regardless of place of residence, citizenship, or ethnic and national identification
• Local, regional, and international institutions and organizations whose projects are related to arts and culture from the Arab region
• Artistic and cultural institutions, galleries, venues, and both nonprofit and for-profit entities
• Both emerging and established practitioners

Ineligible candidates include:

• Members of the AFAC board of trustees, their business partners, or family members
• AFAC staff members, their business partners, or family members
• Members of the current year's reader and juror committees (in the categories they are evaluating)
• Recipients of grants in two consecutive years (must wait two years before reapplying)
• Applicants with a current open grant from AFAC

For multidisciplinary projects, applicants should choose the program based on the final output. If a project combines performance and film and the final output is a staged performance, apply to Performing Arts. If the final output is a film, apply to Cinema or Documentary Film. When in doubt, consult the AFAC grants management team.

Application Process

Applications are only accepted through AFAC's online forms. Submissions via regular mail or email are not considered. Applications can be submitted in Arabic or English. Applicants should prepare work samples (visual, audio, or written) that demonstrate their artistic approach and project feasibility.

For the 2026 cycle, the deadline is April 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM Beirut time (+3 GMT). Check the AFAC Performing Arts Program page for the most current information and application guidelines.

Relevance for Filmmakers

The AFAC Performing Arts Program is not a film grant, but it is relevant to filmmakers whose work intersects with performance. Filmmakers and media artists whose work has a strong performance or installation component may be eligible, depending on how the project is framed. A documentary about a theater production, a film installation designed for a gallery space, or a multimedia performance piece that incorporates projected video could all potentially fit within the Performing Arts program if the final output is a live performance or installation rather than a standalone film.

Practitioners whose work sits at the intersection of performance and screen media should review both the Performing Arts and Cinema/Documentary program criteria carefully to determine the best fit. When in doubt, contact AFAC's grants management team before applying.

Who Should Apply

Arab theater directors, choreographers, playwrights, and performance artists developing or producing original performance work with artistic ambition and cultural significance to Arab audiences. 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, especially in contexts where state arts funding is limited or absent.

See Also

For the AFAC Cinema Program supporting Arab fiction and experimental films, see the AFAC Cinema Program directory entry. For the AFAC Documentary Film Program supporting Arab nonfiction filmmakers, see the AFAC Documentary Program directory entry. For building a financing strategy that incorporates performing arts grants, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to model how an AFAC grant fits into your overall project budget.