Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP)
First Edition
Fire Station is pleased to announce the 2025/26 Open Call for the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP). 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 program offers a comprehensive, intensive curriculum designed to foster critical thinking, hands-on learning, and professional development for a cohort of 20 emerging international and َQatari artists. The program is led by Artistic Director Wael Shawky.
Program Duration: 15 September 2025 - 15 June 2026
Application Deadline: 20 April 2025
Interviews: Between 21 April to 29 April on Zoom for international applicants and in person for Qatari and residents of Qatar, as well as Egyptian applicants.
The Selection of the Artists will be made by a committee chaired by:
HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani (Chairperson of Qatar Museums, DFI, Reach out to Asia and Qatar Leadership Centre).
Including the following members:
Wael Shawky (Artist, Artistic Director of Fire Sation and founding director of MASS Alexandria)
HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Ph.D. (Chairman of Media City Qatar and Advisor in the Amiri Diwan)
Zeina Arida (Director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar)
Yto Barrada (Artist)
Diana Campbell (Artistic Director, Samdani Art Foundation)
Tom Eccles (Executive Director of the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College)
Massimiliano Gioni (Artistic Director of the New Museum)
Ibrahim Mahama (Artist)
Julie Mehretu (Artist)
Hans Ulrich Obrist (Artistic Director of the Serpentine Galleries)
Sheikha Reem Al Thani (Designer and A/Deputy CEO for Exhibitions, Public Art and Publication at Qatar Museum)
Rirkrit Tiravanija (Artist)
Announcement of finalists will be made by 30 May 2025.
ABOUT FIRE STATION
Fire Station is a non-profit platform for contemporary art, interdisciplinary research, and art education in Doha. This multipurpose facility features 15 small individual studios, 2 large group studios, wood and printmaking workshops, 1 fab lab, 3 large exhibition halls, a library, theatre for public programs, and a communal space for screenings, lectures, seminars, and theoretical workshops. By devoting itself to cultivating the mind as well as visual skills, Firestation aspires to usher in the next generation of great Arab and international artists.
This year, Fire Sation will invite 20 participants to join its Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP) selected through an open call. The program 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 residency will conclude with all 20 artists showing their work in an exhibition curated by Wael Shawky. AISP’s unique program for emerging artists shifts the art dialogue beyond the Western Hemisphere, offering a curriculum shaped by diverse perspectives and committed collaborators.
GUEST PROFESSORS & TUTORS
In the 2025/26 edition of the Arts Intensive Study Program, we are excited to welcome the following guest professors and tutors:
Curatorial Mentorship
Each artist will have a dedicated mentor, but these mentors will also give talks/presentations to the whole group. The group represents a diverse array of approaches, generations, and geographies. Mentorship entails 2 Zoom and 1 in-person meeting over the course of 10 months. These individuals were selected for their close, long-term support of artists and experience commissioning emerging artists.
1- Hoor Al Qasimi – President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation.
2- Mohamed Almusibli – Curator and director of Kunsthalle Basel.
3- Anna Arabindan-Kesson - Art historian, writer, curator, Associate professor of Black Diasporic Art.
4- Daniel Blanga Gubbay – Artistic co-director of Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels.
5- Zoe Butt – Curator and writer, Founder/Director at in-tangible.org, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
6- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev - Writer, art historian, art educator and curator of Documenta 13
7- Charles Esche - Director of the Van Abbemuseum and professor at Central Saint Martins.
8- Gridthiya Gaweewong – Curator and Artistic Director of the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok and co-founded the Thailand Biennale 2023.
9- Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy – Curator, writer, and former Director of Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam.
10- Shanay Jhaveri – Curator and Head of Visual Arts at the Barbican Centre in London.
11- Eungie Joo – Art educator and the curator of Sharjah Biennial 12.
12- Amal Khalaf – Director of Programs at Cubitt Artists in London, and co-curator of Sharjah Biennale 16.
13- Ruba Katrib – Curator at MoMA PS1 in New York.
14- Sunjung Kim – Director of Art Sonje Center in Seoul.
15- Prem Krishnamurthy – Designer, curator, and educator, co-artistic director of FRONT International 2021.
16- Chus Martinez - Curator and director of FHNW Art School Basel.
17- Wayne Modest - Director of content at the National Museum of World Cultures and wereldmuseum, Rotterdam.
18- Sohrab Mohebbi – Writer, curator and director of sculpture Center in New York.
19- Shabir Hussain Mustafa - Senior Curator at the National Gallery Singapore.
20- Sandhini Poddar – Adjunct Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, contributing to the development of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's collection and exhibitions.
21- Lucia Pietroiusti – Curator working at the intersection of art, ecology and systems. Head of Ecologies at Serpentine, London
22- Thiago de Paula Souza – Curator, researcher and educator at the Afro-Brazilian Museum (Museu Afro Brazil).
23- Christine Tohme – Founding Director of Ashkal Alwan and curator of upcoming 18th Istanbul Biennial.
24- Ming Tiampo - Curator, professor of art history and director of the Institute of Comparative Studios at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada
25- Sofía Olascoaga - Artist and art educator, curatorial Team of the 32nd São Paulo Biennale.
Visiting artists architects and educators:
1- Neil Beloufa
2- Neha Choksi
3- Nikhil Chopra
4- Abraham Cruzvillegas
5- Alia Farid
6- Josh Kline
7- Aisha Khalid
8- Haroon Mirza
9- Tuan Andrew Nguyen
10- Ho Tzu Nyen
11- Paul Pfeiffer
12- Imran Qureshi
13- Afrah Shafiq
14- Dayanita Singh
15- Rayyane Tabet
16- Sumayya Vally
17- Akram Zaatari
18- Korakrit Arunanondchai
In addition to the core faculty, there will be specialized workshops and mentorship led by international guest artists, curators, and scholars. These workshops will introduce students to a diverse range of contemporary art practices and critical approaches.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Arts Intensive Study Program (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, and there is no tuition or application fee.
Throughout the program, participants will engage in:
- Studio Practice: Structured studio time to develop and refine individual projects, with access to professional equipment and materials.
- 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.
- Group Critiques: Ongoing feedback and discussions with faculty and fellow participants to challenge and refine each participant’s work.
- Collaborative Projects: Opportunities to collaborate with other artists and thinkers across various disciplines, culminating in group exhibitions and projects.
- Public Exhibition: The program culminates in a public exhibition showcasing the works developed throughout the year, providing professional exposure and the opportunity to engage with curators, collectors, and other industry professionals.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
The program is open to emerging visual artists between 18-35 years of age from any country, who are looking to deepen their technical expertise, push the boundaries of their practice, and engage critically with 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 program.
• An understanding that attendance at all AISP events is mandatory, and the program is designed to make attending AISP events possible.
No formal degree is required to apply, and we encourage applicants from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. However, a basic command of English is necessary to engage with the program.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee based on the quality of the application materials, artistic potential, and the applicant's alignment with the goals of the program. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview, either in person (for local applicants) or via Zoom (for international applicants).
The committee will select 20 participants for the program, 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.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Application Deadline: 20 April 2025
• Selection Interviews: 21 April – 29 April 2025 (in person for Qatari, residents of Qatar, and Egyptian applicants)
• Applicants Notified: May 30th
• Program Duration: 15 September 2025 - 15 June 2026
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Fire Station is committed to fostering a creative and supportive environment for all participants. Through a combination of hands-on studio work, academic discourse, and professional development, participants will leave the program equipped with the skills and insights necessary to advance their careers and practices in the contemporary art world.
For inquiries, please contact us at:
Firestation@qm.org.qa
+974 4422 4222
