Masaha Residency Cycle 7

A three-month visual arts residency in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on the visual culture of the internet in relation to heritage

Misk Art Residencies aims to support artistic development and practice by promoting the possibilities of meaningful exchange between the local community and the global cultural landscape. The Masaha Residency is designed to cultivate the art sector by facilitating discourse, research, and experimentation around themes that concern the local community.

Over the last two decades, the internet has become a powerful tool for self-expression and representation, allowing individuals to shape their identities in new and exciting ways. However, this digital landscape is not devoid of cultural context, and we must consider how these platforms interact with traditional values and beliefs. 

This year, the Masaha Residency brings together emerging artists to investigate the role of the internet in shaping and creating identity, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage and history.

Program Structure

• Weekly mentorship

• Three sessions with a guest curator

• Up to four masterclasses

• Up to four workshops and lectures

• Weekly lunches/meetings

• Development of project and budget proposals

• Up to four trips to cultural/historical sites in Riyadh

• Public engagement through open studios and resident-led educational programing

• Networking sessions via studio visits by veteran artists and art practitioners

• Up to four crit sessions with external and internal collaborators 

• Final group exhibition showcase, funded by Misk Art Institute

 
Who’s It for?

The Masaha Residency is open to 

12 full-time emerging visual artists from all artistic disciplines who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• 3+ years of fine arts experience

• 3+ years of exhibiting history

• Actively practicing and engaging in the arts 

Residents Will Gain

• Time and space to focus on researching a new theme-related project

• External and internal experts to advise, provide feedback, and critique your research and project

• Long-lasting contacts within the Saudi and international arts network

• Exposure to and from important members of the art community (such as artists, press, curators, etc.)

• Group showcase exhibiting your new body of work

• Professional development as an artist