Artists Intensive Study program2 (AISP2)

OPEN CALL

Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP)

Second Edition: March – November 2027

Fire Station is pleased to announce the Open Call for the second edition of its’ Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP), 2027. This is a transformative opportunity for emerging visual artists to engage in an immersive, interdisciplinary environment where they can refine their technical skills, deepen their conceptual approaches, and expand their artistic practices. The fully funded programme offers a comprehensive, intensive curriculum designed to foster critical thinking, hands-on learning, and professional development for a cohort of around 25 emerging Qatari and international artists.

The programme is led by the Artistic Director of Fire Station, Wael Shawky.

ABOUT FIRE STATION and AISP

Fire Station is a non-profit center for contemporary art, and art education in Doha. This multipurpose facility features 30 individual and shared studios, workshops and fab lab, five exhibition halls, an auditorium for public programmes, and a communal space for seminars, and theoretical workshops.

The AISP offers an intensive, nine-month curriculum that includes practice-based workshops, seminars, group critiques, and lectures led by established artists, curators, and theorists. Through this combination of studio work, theoretical input, and critical discourse, Fire Station aims to supplement traditional art education and nurture a new generation of innovative, critical artists. The programme concludes with the artists showing their work in an exhibition curated by Wael Shawky.

AISP’s unique agenda for emerging artists shifts the art dialogue beyond the Western Hemisphere, offering a curriculum shaped by diverse perspectives to create a peerless network of global cultural communities.

The 2027 Jury will include the following members:

HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, DFI, Reach out to Asia and Qatar Leadership Centre

Wael Shawky, Artist and Artistic Director of Fire Station Doha

Tom Eccles, Executive Director of the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College

Chus Martinez, Head of the Institute Art Gender Nature at the HGK, FHNW, Basel and Associate curator of TBA21 | Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

Emily Jacir, Artist, Founding Director, Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research (Bethlehem/Rome).

Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries, London.

Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer, Global Director Art Basel Fairs.

Eugene Tan, CEO and Director, National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum

HE Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Museums Authority, and President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW   

The Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) is a nine-month, immersive study opportunity designed for emerging artists committed to developing their artistic practice in a rigorous, multidisciplinary environment. For international participants, flights, accommodation, and a per diem to enable living for 9 months in Qatar will be provided. There is no tuition or application fee. 

Throughout the programme, participants will engage in:

• Studio Practice: Structured studio time to develop and refine individual projects.

• Workshops & Seminars: Regular, practice-based workshops and theoretical seminars that address a wide range of contemporary art practices, with a special focus on interdisciplinary approaches and an invited rotation of mentor guests.

• Group Critiques: Ongoing feedback and discussions with faculty and fellow participants to challenge and refine each participant’s work.

• Open Studios and Exhibition: The programme holds open studios and other public-facing events at key points in the Qatar arts calendar, culminating in an exhibition of works developed throughout the year. These provide meaningful professional exposure and the opportunity to engage with international curators, collectors, and industry peers.

GUEST MENTORS:

In the 2025/26 edition of the Artists Intensive Study Programme, we welcomed a wide range of international mentors including:

Mohamed Almusibli – Curator and Director, Kunsthalle Basel

Dr. Anna Arabindan-Kesson – Art historian, writer, curator; Associate Professor of Black Diasporic Art, Princeton University

Mohamed Bourouissa – Artist

Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev – Writer, art historian, art educator; Curator of Documenta 13

Abraham Cruzvillegas – Artist

Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy – Curator and writer; former Director, Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam

Sandi Hilal - architect and researcher, Founder DAAR (Decolonialising Architecture Art Research)

Shanay Jhaveri – Curator and Head of Visual Arts, Barbican Centre, London

Eungie Joo – Curator, writer, and educator

Prem Krishnamurthy – Artist and Curator, Founder, Department of Transformation, New York.

Taus Makhacheva – Artist

Prof. Dr. Chus Martinez - Head of the Institute Art Gender Nature, Basel Academy of Art and Design

Haroon Mirza – Artist

Hans Ulrich Obrist - Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries, London

Sofía Olascoaga – Artist and art educator; member of the curatorial team, 32nd São Paulo Biennale

Rirkrit Tiravanija - Artist

Sumayya Vally – Architect; Founder and Principal, Counterspace

WHO SHOULD APPLY

The programme is open to emerging visual artists between 18-35 years of age from any country, who are looking to push the boundaries of their practice, and engage critically with global contemporary art.

 Applicants should have:

· A clear artistic practice and commitment to exploring and expanding it. 

· The desire to engage in both creative and intellectual challenges. 

· A passion for working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary setting. 

· A strong motivation to produce and present work at the end of the programme. 

· An understanding that physical presence in Doha throughout, and attendance at all AISP events, is mandatory.

No formal degree is required to apply, and we encourage applicants from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. However, a command of English is necessary to engage with the programme.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be evaluated by the selection jury based on the quality of the application materials, artistic potential, and the applicant's alignment with the goals of the programme. Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview, either in person (for local applicants) or via Zoom (for international applicants). The committee will select up to 25 participants for the programme, with a strong emphasis on diversity in artistic practice and conceptual approaches. Fire Station will provide an invitation letter to assist in the visa process.

· Application Deadline: 5th September 2026

· Selection Interviews: October and November 2026

· Applicants Notified: Mid-December 2026

· Programme Duration: 14th March – 12th November 2027 (approximate dates)

For inquiries, please contact us at:

Firestation@qm.org.qa

+974 4422 4222
Application
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Applicant #2 Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy):

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Artists CV - please include your name, contact details, education, and a list of exhibitions you have participated in:

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Artist Bio: (Describe your practice in 150 words: using your past or current work for reference, please tell us more about your practice and interests)

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Project Proposal: (Describe the project or research you plan to undertake at the Fire Station and tell us why this opportunity will benefit you and your work at this time in 300 words)

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