RESIDENCY PROGRAM
The Residency Program supports creative practitioners interested in experimenting with social and community engagement as part of their practice. The five-month program takes place in person at the 421 Art Campus artist studios and is designed for the creative community at large. The residency is multidisciplinary in focus and is open to practices in visual arts and curation, design and technology, music, literary arts, culinary arts, performance and theater, and other creative disciplines. The residency will bring together three successful applicants for each cohort of the program.
This new 421 Residency Program originates from our former Homebound Residency Program, one that is no longer running as we shift to an in-space approach at our new artist studios.
ARTISTIC RESEARCH GRANT
The 421 Artistic Research Grant supports practice-based research investigating contemporary social questions through interdisciplinary methodologies and active engagement with the researcher’s community. While this is not an academic grant, a strong interaction with the historical, geographical, and intellectual context of a grantee’s topic and medium is expected.
Grantees are required to produce a textual outcome detailing the research process and are encouraged to conceive of other formats of research expression as part of 421’s effort to promote a wider dissemination of knowledge. This can include, but is not limited to performances, school or public programming, symposia, or exhibitions.
Visit our opportunities page for more information about the Artistic Research Grant.
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The 421 Artistic Development Program is an exhibition process that emphasizes the professional and creative development of its participating artists. Conceived as a commissioning exhibition, participating artists are supported by experienced art educators and/or a senior curator from the region, along with the 421 team, through a structured educational model of production, towards a polished exhibition of high caliber.
This program opens opportunities to UAE-based artists with rigorous and sustained practices and allows them space to continue to experiment. It also encourages artists to think deeply about the reception of their work in a public institution and the connection, communication, and multidimensional interaction with their communities and the ways different communities interact with their exhibition.
CURATORIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The 421 Curatorial Development Program is an exhibition process that emphasizes the professional and creative development of its curators. Supported by the 421 team and an expert pedagogical partner, the program aims to support emerging local and regional curators who are pushed here to hone their practice holistically and to build a well-rounded skill set that aids them in crafting each facet of a successful exhibition.
The program features a hybrid of practical and theoretical pedagogical structure that pushes for the understanding of spatial and operational decisions not as secondary to the exhibition’s curatorial concepts, but rather as equally essential to the exhibition’s content, a reflection of and a tool for the curatorial premise to be further explored. The program aims to create a community of young and emerging curators who can contribute to the UAE’s cultural ecosystem in meaningful ways.
LEARNING PROGRAMS
The learning programs at 421 promote access and engagement with creative disciplines among children, students and youth of all skill levels and backgrounds. The programs include interpretive and interactive tools that make exhibitions more accessible to children and audiences of determination, such as tactile experiences, audio guides and in-gallery activity guides. The learning programs at 421 also include special workshops and courses designed for youth, teens, and university students, as well as the annual internship and mentorship program, preparing young art professionals for a career in the arts. The annual docents’ program trains young creative practitioners to give exhibition tours to children, families, schools, and visitors, developing their interpersonal skills and knowledge around contemporary art history. Other initiatives led include the 421 reading room program, which encourages young researchers and academics to participate in discussions about their in-process projects with wider audiences.
These initiatives are developed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Department for Education and Knowledge, SEDRA Foundation for Inclusion, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Zayed University, to ensure that the programs meet the specific learning needs among youth.
STUDIO PLAY
Studio Play is a vibrant and imaginative space designed for children ages 3 to 8, where creativity knows no bounds. Filled with creative games and tactile experiences, this colorful room invites young artists to explore and discover through creative activities inspired by the nearby exhibitions. Safety is a top priority, with soft flooring and materials that allow children to freely engage in play. While little ones immerse themselves in this world of fun and learning, they must be accompanied by a guardian to ensure a safe and enriching experience for all.
This program is a result of our 2024 Internship Program, where Tala Husseino, a selected intern, collaborated with the 421 team to design and launch Studio Play for the first time.
READING ROOM
The Reading Room at 421 features publications, as well as a variety of books related to art history, critical theory, poetry, and experimental work. The Reading Room is a perfect space for those who need a quiet and creative place to study or work from. To view the full collection of books and publications available at the Reading Room, please visit: https://library.dct.gov.ae/en/