The Ithra Art Prize embodies Ithra’s mission by enabling cultural curiosity and supporting the advancement of original thought and expression of contemporary artists in the region and beyond. The competition recognizes artists whose work is intellectually engaging and pursues contextually responsive practices.

Please click [here] to apply. Applications submitted through any other channel will not be considered. 
 

There is no registration fee to submit to the open call.

Finalists’ works will be exhibited at Ithra in Spring 2026. A final winner will then be selected during the run of the exhibition.

Eligible artists must be from, or based in, one of the 22 Arab countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Comores, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

Yes, you are eligible to participate if you are a long-term resident (lived continuously for 10 years or more) in one of the listed countries and if your practice speaks to questions, topics and concerns relevant to the region.

Finalists will be eligible for production funds of up to $15,000 inclusive of packing and shipping of artwork to and from Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. A budget must be submitted as part of the artwork proposal detailing production and shipping costs.

You may submit an existing artwork; however, it must not have been shown in regional biennales, festivals or other major platforms, and it must not have received a grant from an entity in the Kingdom within the past three years.

• An artist statement
• Updated CV and portfolio
• Conceptual rationale or project narrative
• Supporting sketches and visuals
• Detailed budget breakdown (not exceeding $15,000 inclusive of packing and shipping of artwork to and from Ithra)
• Artwork production timeline from conceptualizing and research to delivery
• Artwork title and description of work
• Dimensions
• Technical specifications or installations requirements
• Preferred display format or presentation method

No; however, upon review, there may be recommendations or adjustments to the installation process based on Ithra’s access parameters and load-bearing capacity.

Applications close October 16, 2025 (11:59 PM).
 

No, applications are restricted to one submission only. If more than one application is submitted, the first application will be considered.

Applications will be reviewed by a jury of international art specialists. The jury will then select a number of finalists in November 2025 to participate in a group exhibition. The winner will be selected during the exhibition period between April and June 2026.

Once the application is submitted, it cannot be altered.

The winner will be announced in April 2026.