• Cultural Grants
  • Arts and Literature
  • Thought leadership

 

 Call for  Applications for Cultural Grants - 2023 edition

     Culture is a pattern of living and thinking, it is the essence of a vibrant society.  Despite achieving many goals in the cultural and intellectual scene in Jordan and Palestine, there are still many priorities that have not been achieved due to the slow pace of support for this sector. Therefore, our Foundation has taken on the responsibility of supporting the cultural, creative, and intellectual sectors in Jordan and Palestine through the Cultural Grants Program.

     Our Foundation aims towards a society of culture and creativity, and thus through the Cultural Grants Program, we strive to support entities and individuals in the cultural, creative, and intellectual industries in Jordan and Palestine to implement their projects and achieve their goals. Since 2014, we are proud to have supported more than 230 distinguished individuals and institutions with a value of nearly 8 million Jordanian dinars to implement their projects. Over 600,000 people in Jordan, Palestine, and the Arab world have benefited from these cultural projects.

      Aligned with the strategic objectives of our Foundation and its continuous efforts to support artists, intellectuals, creatives, and activists in the cultural and intellectual sectors, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation proudly announces the opening of the application process for cultural grants for the year 2023 in Jordan and Palestine.

You can read the detailed guide for the 2023 cultural scholarship program by clicking here
The Value of Cultural Grants

The Foundation provides support for cultural projects up to a maximum of 30,000 Jordanian dinars, to be implemented over a maximum period of 12 months.


The fields supported by the Cultural Grants Program

The cultural grant program supports individuals and organizations with cultural, creative, and intellectual projects within both the Arts and Literature grant program and the Thought Leadership grant program. The Arts and Literature grants aim to raise awareness of the value of artistic culture and creative writing, develop a culture of reading and research, enrich and disseminate Arabic literary and artistic content across various digital and print platforms, As a result, the programs’ goal is to invest in cultural talents, create literary and artistic spaces and preserve and protect the national cultural heritage. You can read more about the Arts and Literature grant domains and apply by clicking here.

The Thought Leadership Grants aim to support and develop the educational process through capacity-building programs by provision of learning resources for all, creation of educational spaces, and investing in educational and scientific applications. In addition, it supports various educational and scientific activities and sectors that meet the needs of students and develop their skills. You can read details about the domains of Thought Leadership Grants that you can apply for by clicking here.

 

The timeline for the Cultural Grants 
Applications for the 2023 edition will open on March 12th and close on May 12th. The evaluation process of the submitted applications will last for three months, and the announcement of the supported projects will follow. Successful applicants will then undergo specialized training to develop their cultural, creative, and knowledge projects, and proceed to implement them.

Conditions for applying and points to consider

  1. All project activities must be conducted in Jordan or/and Palestine The project's activities must be implemented over a maximum of 12 months.
  2. Applications must be within the AHSF grants program tracks/sectors
  3. All application requirements, forms, and documents must be completed.
  4. The Foundation does not provide support for two different projects implemented at the same time and by the same entity.
  5. The Foundation encourages projects that implement project activities in various governorates of the Kingdom.
  6. The Foundation encourages projects that integrate more than one sector of support.
  7. The Foundation encourages projects aimed at enriching digital content.
  8. The foundation encourages projects with a clear approach to sustainability and continuity.

The Application Process

The application process can be done for your cultural projects through the online system by clicking here. The application process requires completing a set of forms and documents.

 

         

The Arts & Literature Grant aims to raise awareness of the value of artistic culture and creative writing. This program aims at supporting the development of a reading and research culture, as well as the enrichment and dissemination of Arabic literary and artistic content across all print and digital platforms.

Therefore, the programs’ goal is to invest in cultural talents, create literary and artistic spaces as well as support the preservation and protection of national cultural heritage.

You can read the detailed guide for the 2023 cultural scholarship program by clicking here

  • Performing Arts

Performing arts are the essence of culture, they are the graphical or audible representation of how the people celebrate their lives. Our aim is to help boost the performing arts scene between artists at a local level, national level and regional level through possible collaborations with Arab artists as well.     

In this category, Grants are given to Performances that range from:

1- Theater (already produced plays aimed at children of all ages, which carries a cultural, social message to be performed in across Amman and the governorates)

2- Music: shows (collaborations between local musicians, musicians from governorates and/or Arab and musicians)

3- Dance (artistic performances that reflect the cultural identity of Jordan and Palestine, theatrical dances, Dabkeh).

AHSF does not support the production of plays or the production of Music albums.

*All performance content must be readily available at the time of applying for the grant as the content will be checked before approval.

 

  • Audio Visual

Videos, Films, Animations and Motion graphics are the modern means of knowledge sharing and are the essential tools for representations of content which can show impact and target a large audience.

The main aim of this grant section is the empowerment of educational/ edutainment productions in the fields of:

1- Edutainment Animation (2D, 3D, Graphic motion) that provide educational/edutainment content in Arabic language, covering different sectors like arts and language and others.

2- Post productions of Films covering the local scene and cultural and social issues.

3- Documentation of cultural scenes and activities and influencers but not on archaeological heritage sites.

AHSF does not support any projects that have any religious or politically focused activities.

 

  • Festivals and Cultural Activities

From music to portrayals of arts or dance, festivals bring people together and allows them to collaborate and work together, share knowledge and skills and promote cultural diversity.

This category allows the promotion of collaborations between artists at a local/national level and at a regional level (Arab world).

Eligible Projects:

- Festivals covering all types of art that include collaborations between artists.

AHSF does not support personal exhibitions for artists, neither does it support any festivals or activities with a commercial characteristic.

 

  • National Heritage

Our Cultural Heritage is our identity, and it is what differentiates us from others, Therefore, the main aim of this category is to support efforts that maintain our culture, which in turn means maintaining our identity.

The focus of the projects should be on preserving the cultural national heritage by documenting it and/or teaching it through:

1- Documentation of cultural national heritage.

2- Training(s) and workshops involving the preservation of national culture.

3- Storytelling/Hakawati art.

National heritage documentation programs do not include research projects, publications, nor the documentation of tourist and cultural sites, and sites of archaeological heritage. It is limited to the projects of documenting heritage stories, customs and traditions of the regions, artistic and cultural heritage, concluding with demonstrations to the general public.

 

  • Artistic and Literary Spaces

The presence of educational programs, workshops, and spaces for children and youth is essential for the development of any society. One main aim is to help in making available resources that would bring benefit and value.

Eligible projects should support the organization of workshops and projects/programs that build capacities in subjects such as:

1- Creative writing in Arabic language photography, poetry in Arabic Language, graffiti, comics, art therapy.

2- Projects and platforms that enrich the Arabic language content online. 

Projects concerned with fine arts and translation projects are not eligible; the development of mobile applications and websites are not eligible; Arabic content provided on the platforms must be accurate, factual and referenced.

 

  • Library Development Support

Libraries are the house of books, the starting point for learning, the sacred space of silence and focus, the only place where reading is the most encouraged activity. Libraries are the headquarters for every educator and student, essential for the growth of a reading research society. AHSF is well known for its library and the support it gives to libraries across Jordan and Palestine, throughout this category, we will only keep our commitment to this noble cause.

In this subcategory, the focus of the projects should be on Existing Active Libraries that provide access to a large segment of society, promote reading and seek to create programs that help build a knowledgeable community. Library support can range from:          

1- Creating a new inventory or Expanding an existing inventory of Audio-books

2- Creating a new inventory or Expanding an existing inventory of E-books

3- Supporting the inventory of specialized books.

4- Educational and Edutainment Library Activities

5- Provision of various media that encourage reading

6- Training and capacity building workshops and projects that support existing or new library activities. (staff, Volunteers, members)

Libraries applying for a grant should be active in educational and edutainment activities or at least showing potential of engaging in such initiatives, they must include free access to a large segment of society and show ability to sustain themselves and the ability to cover operational costs including (salaries, rental costs, insurance costs, and utility bills). Grants are not given to private libraries or libraries that are part of a school or a university, libraries must be public and open to all.

 

The program aims to support and develop the educational process through capacity building programs, by provision of learning resources for all, creation of educational spaces, investment in scientific and educational applications, as well as supporting various scientific and educational activities.

The support is primarily focused on programs that address students' needs and develop their skills.

You can read the detailed guide for the 2023 cultural scholarship program by clicking here

  • Scientific Research Conferences

AHSF recognizes that research leads to knowledge, which steers solutions and innovations especially when the results of the researches are discussed in open forums instigating feedback and reviews.

Applicants are encouraged to submit projects to carry out scientific conferences that (1) provide recommendations (2) identify opportunities

Eligible applications should be in the form of Facilitating scientific research conferences that include undergraduate students which discuss:

  • STEAM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics research papers. Such conferences must have expert research knowledge.

And/ or

  • different uses and applications of STEAM.

AHSF requires the participation of students in advanced conferences, and not limited to teaching staff or postgraduate students.

 

  • Scientific Activities

AHSF understands the need for various methods of engagement with children in order to deliver the message. By creating different activities and encouraging children to learn and enjoy learning, we aim to stimulate their brains and connect science with fun.

Applicants are encouraged to submit projects that involve children in different activities that are impactful and aimed at children (age 6-16) that can be in the form of:

  • Scientific competitions that stimulate critical thinking and stimulate scientific competition between groups to expose them to as much information as possible.
  • Scientific exhibitions that demonstrates the introduction of prototypes and/or important/ new scientific applications and models.
  • Educational boot-camps that teach critical and creative thinking among children and young people around scientific subjects, as well as enhancing their leadership skills and free thought.
  • Fun science demonstrations that explain concepts and scientific subjects in an entertaining and attractive way. 

 

  • Scientific Spaces and Educational Applications

AHSF recognizes the need to provide access to knowledge for those who can’t receive support outside of schools by providing spaces and applications that address their knowledge gaps and help them learn/engage in different extracurricular activities.

This grant category aims to support projects that

  1. Provide knowledge spaces, whether online or offline, permanent or pop up
  2.  Provide free knowledge to children who do not usually have access to such knowledge.

Such as;

  • Workshops and scientific applications around Critical thinking and design thinking in which they motivate teachers and students into finding solutions to problems they face or provide answers to questions without the need for guidance or directions.
  • Scientific technological spaces that cover programing/coding, artificial intelligence, and others.
  • Workshops and spaces around Differentiated education/ non-formal education/ vocational training in schools.
  • Digital scientific content, including scientific topics and capacity building programs that serve the job market and specialized scientific training(s). 

 

  • Youth Forums and Debates 

AHSF believes in the value created by open discussions between children and their peers or others, in order to have a culture of engagement and stronger formal conversation especially in formal settings where they need to become comfortable in engaging in serious professional conversation about important matters.

This category is for forums and debates aimed at two age group categories: school children (11-16 years) and university students (18-45 years). The central focus is to support projects which aim to engage and discuss different scientific and innovation topics and research. Specifically,

  • Forums and debates addressing STEAM. (Science, Technology, Education, Arts, and Mathematics)
  • Forums and debates addressing topics on Innovation sciences and research.
  • Capacity building forums and debates.