Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar has opened applications for the 2026-27 Tasweer Residency, inviting photographers and visual storytellers aged 21 and above who are based in Qatar to apply for the program's second edition.
Applications will be accepted from July 21 to September 3 for the five-month residency, which will be held at Bayt Al Wakrah in the historic Old Al Wakrah City.
The program will support each resident's artistic development and culminate in the exhibition "As the Image Unfolds -- The Language of Athar" during the 2027 Tasweer Festival. An online zine documenting participants' creative processes and the outcomes of their collective journey will also accompany the exhibition.The Tasweer Residency encourages a broad range of photographic approaches, including documentary, conceptual and experimental image-making. Applicants are invited to propose projects offering thoughtful and authentic perspectives on the connections between people, culture, memory and the environment in Qatar and beyond.
The residency is built around the concept of "athar" -- an Arabic word meaning traces, imprints and legacies. It presents photography as both a record of the present and a means of reimagining it through light, memory and the space between what is visible and what remains unseen.
Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director of Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar, said: "Photography has become an essential part of our daily lives, and we rely on images to enhance our memory of place and time. The Tasweer Residency provides photographers with a creative space, support, and guidance from experts, helping them turn their artistic imagination into a tangible reality during their residency amidst the inspiring scenery of Old Al Wakrah City."
Three selected residents will each receive a dedicated studio space, a monthly stipend of QR 4,000 and comprehensive mentorship from photography experts.
The program emphasizes experimentation, critical dialogue, and community engagement, guiding participants from research to realization.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2025, the residency will continue to offer production and curatorial support, access to local cultural institutions and professional networks, and opportunities for public engagement.
