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al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art

al Mawrid is a research center and archive dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the visual arts of the Arab world. Through a range of activities that include fellowships, research projects, conferences and colloquia, as well as the construction of a unique open-access archive, al Mawrid aims to be a major resource for scholars, independent researchers, and for educational and art institutions.

The center’s archive encompasses the Arab Art Archive, which acquires primary source materials pertaining to modern and contemporary art across the Arab world, and the Akkasah Photography Archive, which documents different histories and practices of photography in the broader region with a focus on the UAE and the Gulf. al Mawrid’s research operation has two arms: one dedicated to formulating new analytic categories for the history of Arab art, and Haraka: Experimental Lab for Arab Art and Social Thought, which takes the intellectual life of the region as a starting point for exploring alternative modes of knowledge production about its societies and history.

The Center is part of the NYUAD Research Institute and works in collaboration with faculty in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences serving faculty research and undergraduate education.

Center's Highlights

Singapore Biennale 2022, "Natasha" co-curated by Ala Younis

Singapore Biennale 2022, "Natasha"

Ala Younis, al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art's Research Scholar, has been appointed as one of the Artistic Directors of the Singapore Biennale (SB2022), for its seventh edition opening on October 16, 2022. Helmed by four Co-Artistic Directors from around the world, the team comprises Binna Choi from South Korea/the Netherlands, Nida Ghouse from India, living in Germany, June Yap from Singapore and Ala Younis from Jordan and UAE. The Artistic Directors gave the biennale a name, they called it Natasha. 

The main event for Singapore Biennale 2022 (SB2022) will run until March 19, 2023 across a network of sites in Singapore, including Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Sentosa Cove, Lazarus Island and St John’s Island, Yan Kit Playfield, Regional Libraries, Singapore Art Museum (SAM) Residencies and Hoardings. 

Learn more here.

Recent Publications by al Mawrid's team members

Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World Graduate Student Research Workshop (Spring 2023)

"New Directions in the study of the Arab World"

March 4-8, 2023 

The NYU Abu Dhabi Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World program invites applications for its second Graduate Student Research Workshop to be hosted in spring 2023 at NYU Abu Dhabi. We welcome applications from international doctoral students with the opportunity to present and thoroughly discuss their Ph.D. projects related to the Arab world.

The application for spring 2023 will open in July 1, 2022

Deadline: September 30, 2022

NYUAD Research Institute / Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World 

The NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute invites scholars who wish to contribute to the vibrant research culture of NYUAD’s Saadiyat campus to apply for a residential fellowship during Academic Year 2023-2024. The Institute welcomes applications from scholars working in all areas of the Humanities related to the study of the Arab world, its rich literature and history, its cultural and artistic heritage, and its manifold connections with other cultures.

The next application will open on August 1, 2022

Deadline: October 3, 2022

Artist in Residence, The Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB)

The Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB) at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is announcing the opening of an Artist in Residence program and is welcoming applications from artists to fill the first position to start on September 1, 2023.

Application Deadline: November 30, 2022

Start Date: September 1, 2023 (One year position) 

Please send your application, questions, and inquiries to nyuad.cgsb.artist@nyu.edu.