Sharjah24: The Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) has announced the third edition of the Focal Point Publishing Grant, as part of the SAF's commitment to encouraging creativity in multidisciplinary publishing processes in the region and worldwide.
Sharjah Art Foundation invites proposals from art and cultural scholars, independent publishers and publishing houses, collectives, and public institutions for a project that will contribute to the production of original ideas and critical thinking while taking an experimental and innovative approach to publishing in the broader discourse on art and culture.
The Focal Point Publishing Grant 2021 is dedicated to promoting printed content that is distinguished by its intellectual, graphic, and material qualities.
A stipend of up to USD 30,000 is provided in addition to publication and distribution services. The publishing and distribution assistance will be categorised:
Long-form essays (6,000+ words) that draw on previously unpublished research or offer new perspectives on ideas and themes related to solidarity in Global South networks, such as the MEASA (Middle East, Africa, and South Asia) region; underrepresented histories; or a new collection or anthology The winning essay will be published in a compact reader format.
Reproduction of small publications, particularly avant-garde experimental art that requires to be translated. This contains books that have been out of print for more than ten years but might be reviewed, updated, and supplemented with a new academic introduction. Applications from publications in languages other than English are encouraged.
Cookbooks, picture books, personal anecdotes, travelogues, geography books, artist zines, comics, graphic novels, children's books, illustrated material, and combinations of the above or any other sort of printed matter are all welcome under the newly introduced experimental publishing category. While the final project must be presented in print, an e-book edition or digital reading component is strongly recommended.
The Sharjah Art Foundation's work focuses on publishing and supporting publishing techniques. The Foundation has published a variety of books on modern and contemporary art, including artist books, catalogues, and scholarly volumes, since its inception in 2009. The Foundation supports visiting artists, curators, and scholars in their research activities all year round, and publishes catalogues for biennials and curated exhibitions for local, regional, and international audiences interested in contemporary art and publishing.
Ali Al Safi (filmmaker, visual artist, and curator), Gabriela Nugent (art historian), Radha Moumni (curator and art historian), and Hakara (online bilingual platform) were chosen from over 100 proposals for the Focal Point Publishing Grant 2020. In the inaugural edition, the award was worth $27,000 and used to fund research initiatives in the MENASA region under the two categories of feature articles and reprint publications, which focused on art history, long essays, and theoretical material.
The grant will be presented at the annual Focal Point book festival, which will feature works by artists, writers, scholars, and publishers from around the world. The show will take place at Bait Obaid Al Shamsi in the Arts District from December 9 to 11, 2021.
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