Organizer Information
Mophradat is an international non-profit contemporary arts organization based in Brussels. It creates opportunities for artists, curators, and thinkers from the Arab world through an inventive and ambitious approach to funding, commissioning, and collaborating. The organization is dedicated to supporting practices that are imaginative, inclusive, and hospitable, often focusing on progressive socio-political values. Mophradat acts as a bridge, connecting practitioners from the Arab world with international institutions and peers to foster critical dialogue and professional growth.
Title & Description
Orbitals 2026 (Uzbekistan Edition)
Orbitals is a recurring research program that takes four curators and arts researchers to an international location in the Global South to immerse themselves in a different artistic context. The 2026 edition centres on a guided research trip to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Participants will spend two weeks exploring the practice of the renowned Uzbek artist and filmmaker Saodat Ismailova and the feminist curatorial collective DAVRA, which she initiated. The program serves as a vehicle for learning about a specific context through an artist's practice, investigating themes like craft as a living practice, women’s embodied knowledge, and the impact of colonial narratives on cultural landscapes.
Categories
- Visual Arts & Curation
- Arts Research & Writing
- Public Programming & Performance
- Interdisciplinary Practices
Eligibility
- Geographic Focus: Must be from or currently living in the Arab world.
- Professional Level: Applicants must have at least five years of professional work experience in contemporary arts.
- Experience: Ability to demonstrate prior experience in international projects, exchanges, or collaborations.
- Current Practice: Must be actively engaged in a specific research or curatorial project they are currently developing.
- Language: Proficiency in Arabic and a functional command of English is typically required for group communication.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected participants receive a fully funded research experience, which includes:
- Travel: Round-trip international flights and local transportation.
- Logistics: Travel insurance and reimbursement of visa costs.
- Accommodation: Provided for the full duration of the trip.
- Stipend: Daily per diems to cover living expenses.
- Mentorship: Access to high-level networking with local artists, curators, and cultural organizations in Uzbekistan.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following via the online application form:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detail your professional history and education.
- Portfolio: Documentation of at least three previous projects.
- Personal Statement/Motivation: Responses to specific questions regarding your interest in Saodat Ismailova’s work and how this trip relates to your current research.
- References: Names and contact details of two professional references.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 January 2026
- Shortlist Interviews (Online): 2 February 2026
- Notification Date: 5 February 2026
- Preparatory Meetings: February and March 2026 (Online).
- Research Trip Dates: April 19 – May 3, 2026 (Subject to final confirmation).
Location
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Additional Details
Participants are expected to contribute fully to the group dynamic and commit to all scheduled activities. Following the trip, participants must share their reflections in a chosen format (essay, podcast, video, or diary) to be published or shared with the broader arts community through Mophradat’s channels. Please note that Mophradat does not accept AI-generated answers in the application; they seek to understand the practitioner's authentic voice and professional urgency.