Each year, RAKFAF recruits artists and teachers to provide public workshops and talks through the first month of the Festival. Workshops and talks come from any and all artistic fields including but not limited to ceramics and pottery, culinary arts, painting, performance, photography, poetry and writing, printmaking, sculpting, and woodworking. If you are interested in hosting a workshop or talk for the coming Festival, please complete the application form linked below. Successful applicants will receive a small teaching fee for their services and the cost of workshop materials will be covered by the Festival.
U.S. Mission to the UAE Artist Grant
With the support of the U.S. Mission to the UAE, RAKFAF is seeking to commission American Artists based in the UAE to produce a series of artworks that align with the 2023 theme, Nature. The commissioned artwork can be from any medium and the artist can either submit artwork that they have previously created or propose an entirely new piece for the Festival. The selected artist will also be requested to conduct at least three educational events as part of the Festival programming.
Submissions for the 2023 Festival open July 2022.
RAKFAF Curatorial Development Program
The Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival invites young and prospective curators in the United Arab Emirates to submit their interest to the RAKFAF Curatorial Development Program. Designed to support the growth and upskilling of young talent, the curatorial development program will provide training and mentorship from world-renowned curators, a space at the 10th annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival for a final exhibition, and a small grant to support said exhibition. The selected participant will work with established curators to select a body of work that reflects the Festival's theme Nature through weekly 1-1 sessions and individual self-paced work. Please note that this program is for curation and not for the creation of new artwork by the participant.
Entertainment
During the Festival nights, RAKFAF hosts a series of live performances from UAE-based artists, including music, dance, spoken word, theater, and more. Performers take over make-shift stages throughout Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from sunset to 10 pm. If you’re interested in performing at RAKFAF, please complete the application form linked below and include a short (2 to 5-minute) audition tape. Please note that, due to the volume of applications we receive, only performers we wish to audition further will be contacted.
Submissions for the 2023 Festival open November 2022.