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.
History
AFAC was established in 2007 in Beirut, Lebanon, as the first pan-Arab independent arts fund. The Performing Arts Program launched as one of AFAC's founding grant tracks, supporting theater, dance, and performance across the Arab region. By 2025, AFAC had grown to 11 active programs. Key milestones: in 2025, AFAC awarded $255,500 in Performing Arts grants to 21 projects. The 2025 grantees included practitioners from Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, and Tunisia. The 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. Many 2025 projects stretched performance beyond conventional spaces, staging encounters in streets, community centers, and discursive spaces.
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:
| Applicant Type | Maximum Grant |
|---|---|
| Individuals and teams | $25,000 |
| Collectives and institutions | $35,000 |
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.
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.
Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money
AFAC Performing Arts grants have supported theater, dance, and performance projects across the Arab region:
- Shadow puppetry and storytelling project (Egypt, 2025) - A production grant supporting a shadow puppetry performance rooted in folk narrative traditions, staged in community spaces outside Cairo.
- Dance and migration project (Lebanon, 2025) - A choreographic work exploring migration and displacement, developed with performers from refugee communities in Beirut.
- Theater and gender-based violence project (Tunisia, 2025) - A theater production addressing gender-based violence, developed through workshops with local women's organizations.
- Site-specific performance intervention (Morocco, 2025) - A public performance staged in nontraditional spaces, engaging audiences in streets and community centers.
- Multimedia performance piece (Palestine, 2025) - A performance incorporating projected video and live sound, exploring identity and belonging under occupation.
The 2025 cohort spanned 7 countries and 21 projects, with grants averaging approximately $12,167 per project.
What Makes an Application Competitive
AFAC's Performing Arts jury evaluates submissions on several concrete signals:
- Regional relevance: The jury favors projects that engage Arab cultural contexts and address issues specific to the region. The 2025 jury emphasized promoting artistic activity beyond major urban centers into villages and rural areas.
- Formal innovation: Projects that stretch performance beyond conventional theater spaces score higher. The 2025 jury selected works staged in streets, community centers, and discursive spaces.
- Thematic depth: The 2025 jury noted themes of identity, migration, war, belonging, and gender-based violence. Projects engaging these themes with specificity and nuance stand out.
- Community engagement: Projects that involve workshops, training, or community participation carry weight, especially those building capacity in underserved areas.
- Budget realism: For grants above $10,000, applicants must show proof of securing at least 50% of the remaining budget. Applications without co-financing face a disadvantage.
What Filmmakers Should Know
The AFAC Performing Arts Program is not a film grant. It funds live performance, not screen-based work. Filmmakers whose projects intersect with performance may qualify if the final output is a staged performance or installation rather than a standalone film. A documentary about a theater production, a film installation for a gallery space, or a multimedia performance incorporating projected video could fit within this program. If your final output is a film, apply to the AFAC Cinema Program or AFAC Documentary Program instead. For multidisciplinary projects, choose the program based on the final output. When in doubt, contact AFAC's grants management team before applying. The 2026 deadline is April 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM Beirut time. AFAC accepts applications in Arabic or English. Each applicant can submit only one application per open call. If you receive grants in two consecutive years, you must wait 2 years before reapplying.
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See Also
For the AFAC Cinema Program supporting Arab fiction filmmakers, 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, see Film Grants and Funding. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to model how an AFAC grant fits into your project budget. For grants that do not require US citizenship, see Film Grants No US Citizenship Required.
