Founded in 2007, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) was founded in 2007 by Arab cultural activists as an independent foundation to support individual artists, writers, researchers and  intellectuals, as well as organisations from the Arab region working in the field of arts and culture. 


Every year, AFAC offers close to 200 grants through open calls to submit applications, “taking advantage of the gray areas and collapse of self-evident certitudes in our region to spur fresh thinking and innovative visions of the future.”


In a time when the music industry is suffering most from the global pandemic with no income from live performances and employment hard to come by, self-funding a future project is ambitious. Now more than ever, AFAC’s music fund could be a lifeline for Middle Eastern artists dreaming of putting out an album, going on tour, creating an event series or music platform.


AFAC’s music grant supports production, performances, collaborations, album recordings and festivals, and is open to receive project applications from all Arab individuals working in arts and culture. Project applications are accepted irrespective of age, years of experience, country of residence, ethnicity, gender or religion. They also accept proposals from local, regional and international institutions whose projects are related to Arab culture. These include artistic, cultural, social and educational institutions, as well as venues, centers and organisations - governmental and non-governmental - that are engaging with contemporary Arab arts and culture.


The program provides annual grants ranging from a few thousand U.S. dollars, up to a maximum of USD 50,000. Submissions open from May 15th 2020 and the deadline is August 1st 2020, with the announcement being made on November 6th 2020.


Previous beneficiaries of  AFAC’s music include Cairo-based audio visual group, Baskot Lel Baltageyya, Yemini duo, Kabreet, and Tunisian singer-songwriter, Emel Mathlouthi, as well as venues including Cairo’s ROOM Art Space and events including, Fete De la Musique and Beirut & Beyond.


To find out exact details on how to apply click here


Photo: Recipients of 2019 grant, Lebanese electro-acoustic noise act, Two or the Dragons.