Call for Research Residency Proposals
A. M. Qattan Foundation Archive
The A.M. Qattan Foundation is currently undertaking the organisation of its institutional archive – an extensive and multifaceted repository that reflects its long-standing contributions to the fields of culture, the arts, and education. The archive documents key turning points in the trajectory of Palestinian cultural work while tracing the foundation's sustained engagement with cultural practitioners, artists, and educators. It further reveals a rich history of direct involvement across interdisciplinary contexts, as well as numerous collaborations that have contributed to shaping the present cultural landscape.
In this context, the Leila Miqdadi Al-Qattan Library invites researchers in art studies, curators, and academics whose work incorporates artistic practice or application to submit proposals that contribute to the formation of the Foundation’s archive. Proposals are expected to engage with the archive’s multiple layers and approach its materials as both a reference for ongoing knowledge production and a resource for reading the present and imagining the future. The residency encourages research methodologies grounded in experimentation, interaction, and community engagement-moving beyond purely theoretical output to include artistic, research-based, or knowledge-driven outcomes.
In light of the ongoing systematic assault on Palestinian narrative and memory, the residency offers an opportunity to critically reflect on the role and relevance of archiving within cultural institutions. It opens a space to interrogate the processes inherent in archival practice, including erasure, exclusion, containment, and access.
Residency Duration and Number of Opportunities
The residency offers two positions, each for a duration of one month, to be carried out between August and December 2026, on dates to be agreed upon with selected participants.
Eligibility
The residency is open to:
- Researchers in art studies
- Curators
- Academics whose research incorporates artistic practice
Applications may be submitted by individuals or on behalf of an artistic or research collective (represented by one member).
Proposals may be based on ongoing or new research, provided they result in a tangible artistic and/or knowledge-based output achievable within the residency period and/or a final research output to be completed by December 2026.
Application Requirements
- Applicants are required to submit:
- A CV outlining relevant experience in artistic and/or research fields
- A preliminary research proposal (maximum 1000 words), including the core research idea, methodology, and a one-month work plan
- A proposal for engagement with the library space and its community (maximum 500 words), such as readings, workshops, discussions, installations, or exploratory events—at a minimum of two activities during the residency
- Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
- Proposals will be reviewed by a joint committee composed of experienced professionals and a representative of the Foundation. Selected applicants will be notified no later than 20 May 2026. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- The proposal’s engagement with the A. M. Qattan Foundation archive.
- Clarity and rigour of the methodology and work plan. Feasibility.
- Originality and the proposal’s artistic and/or intellectual contribution.
Application Procedure
- All applications must be submitted via the following link:
https://system1.formstack.com/forms/iqamat_baheth - All materials should be compiled into a single PDF file
- File name format: Full Name – Visiting Research Residency 2026
What We Offer
- A fixed stipend of USD 2,500 (exclusive of taxes)
- Accommodation at the Foundation’s guesthouse at its Cultural Centre in Ramallah
- Coverage of costs related to public engagement activities within the library space
- Coverage of costs for artistic research outputs produced at the Cultural Centre
For applicants based outside Palestine, participants are responsible for securing their visa and covering travel and transportation costs.
Research Ethics and Documentation
The researcher is required to uphold ethical standards, including respecting privacy and obtaining informed consent when conducting interviews or using materials related to individuals or groups.
The Foundation reserves the right to document residency activities (photography, video, and short descriptive texts) for archival and communication purposes, while ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights and the privacy of participants.
Deadline
The deadline for the submission of proposals is the following:
20 May 2026, 23:59 (Palestine time)