Hayy Studios Open Call

Practices of Place, Memory, and Making

About Hayy Studios:

Hayy Studios are four dedicated spaces for artist rentals, residency programmes, and participatory projects. They are located within a multidisciplinary arts complex, in a building that brings together an exhibition space, an independent cinema, a library, a makerspace, and a community of pioneering creative enterprises. Studio members are neighbours to theatre companies, design houses, publishers, and craftspeople, all under one roof, with this cross-disciplinary proximity embedded in the architecture.

Since Hayy Jameel opened in 2021, the studios have been used by artists including Filwa Nazer, Abdulmukhsin Bin Ali, Anhar Salem, Bader Ali, and Zahra Bundakji, many of whom have gone on to become established names in the Saudi and regional art scene. The studios have been part of Hayy from the very beginning, tied to its earliest exhibitions and programmes.

About the rental of studios:

The rental initiative aims to offer affordable studio spaces for Jeddah, and wider Makkah region, based creatives. 

Who can apply:

Artists, filmmakers, creative practitioners, writers, interdisciplinary researchers and art collectives based in Jeddah, who have professional experience of at least 2 years in the art field. 

This cycle, Hayy Studios encourages applications from practitioners whose work engages with the following areas:

• Art collectives working on urban issues, land practices, food performance, storytelling, seed libraries, cartographies or alternative publishing
• Artists researching art history in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
• Artists working on the history and contemporary practice of handcrafts, in connection with the region’s living craft traditions, building on Art Jameel’s long-standing work in this field, including the Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Jeddah’s Al Balad
• Artists and researchers engaged with the history of architecture in the Kingdom and the Gulf, particularly modernist architecture and its current conditions

These areas reflect Hayy Jameel’s broader programme and research of its different departments, including Hayy Arts, Hayy Makers, the Library and Hayy Learning. Selected artists whose practice connects to these themes may find opportunities to contribute to and participate in Hayy’s programmes, with the possibility for that contribution to be recognised and supported accordingly.

Applicants cannot be in a college or a university degree-granting programme. Certain types of work cannot be accommodated for practical reasons, including large or heavy sculptures, some types of metal work, and work involving high noise levels or fire risk.

Conditions:

Duration: July 2026 – May 2027 (11 months)
Requirements: Must be a Makkah region resident
Rental Fee: 1,225 SAR/ month
Age Limit: 21+
No fees are covered

Studio members receives: 

• Access to controlled 8×5 m studio space, minimally fitted out with sink, table, chair, and storage cabinets
• Amenities include electricity, water, and a Wi-Fi connection
• Priority booking to community spaces at Hayy Jameel including Project Space, the Community Cinema, and Hayy Explorers (pending availability and approval by relevant department)
• Invitation to Hayy Jameel events, including Dewaniya, exhibition openings, special screenings, and relevant events
• Discounts and special offers on certain Art Jameel spaces and ticketed programmes
• Facilities and operational support (as outlined in Hayy Studios’ policies and procedures) 

The studio member is expected to: 

• Commit to occupy the studio a minimum of 3-days per week for the duration of their residency
• Present creative practice to Hayy Jameel staff and fellow studio residents as part of the onboarding programme
• Organize one public programme within the duration of the occupancy
• Participate in one ‘Open Studio’ day hosted by Art Jameel 
• Abide by Hayy Studios policies and procedures including hours of operation, rules of conduct, and other relevant Hayy Jameel guidelines

Application submission:

All applications will be treated with discretion and anonymity. The selection will be made based on the quality of the work, the experience of the candidate, the coherence of the current projects with the collective practice. Finalists will be invited for in-person interviews. All applicants will be informed of the committee’s decision by Jun 18, 2026

Each application will be reviewed by a committee composed of the Art Jameel team members from multiple departments including exhibitions. For each cycle four applicants will be selected. 

Application requirements:

• Portfolio with visuals, or a selection of written works, highlighting three projects that demonstrates the experience of the candidate
• Updated CV
• A motivation letter  (250 words maximum)
• Contact email and phone number 
• Copy of National ID or Iqama