Qatar Museums announced the names of two Qatari artists selected to take part in the first residency programme of the newly formed ‘Studio 209 NY’, a new partnership for an international art residency which will commence in 2019. Artists Fatima Mohammed and Sarah Al Obaidly will be joining the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP).
Fatima Mohammed, a contemporary Qatari artist who works in mixed media, printmaking and installation art, will join the residency from 1 January to 30 March 2019. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) with a bachelor’s degree in Painting and Printmaking and a minor in Art History.
Sara Al Obaidly, meanwhile, will take part in Studio 209 NY from 1 April to 30 June 2019. She is a portrait and documentary photographer. She obtained a BA in Fashion Textiles with Business Studies and an MA in Sustainable Design at the University of Brighton. Most recently, her work has been exhibited as part of the Contemporary Art Qatar shows in Germany and Russia.
According to Fire Station Director Khalifa Al Obaidly, Studio 209 NY is the latest addition to Qatar Museums’ comprehensive portfolio of programmes that look to nurture a new generation of creators and help Qatar develop sources for art and creativity from within.
I am so proud to see Fatima and Sarah take on New York and bring their unique aesthetic to an ever-expanding range of international audiences who have been exposed to art from Qatar.’
The ISCP is a laboratory for the world’s most promising artists and curators. It supports the creative advancement of participants and promotes cultural exchange through residencies, exhibitions and public programmes. Housed in East Williamsburg, with 35 work studios and two gallery spaces, ISCP is New York’s most comprehensive international visual arts residency programme, and the fourth largest worldwide. With over 1,350 alumni from more than 80 countries, it hosts over 100 residents each year.
Qatari artists selected for the programme will have access to a diverse global network of colleagues along with other programme benefits, including a private, furnished studio space, monthly access to cultural institutions in and outside New York, monthly private studio visits with professionals from other museums, galleries and alternative spaces, the opportunity to meet with one of two visiting critics to ISCP each month, as well as the opportunity to realise public projects in several offsite venues in New York.
Much like its Paris counterpart, the ISCP includes an Open Studio programme. The two-day event will provide the opportunity for all ISCP residents to present their work to the public, giving them an unmatched opportunity to showcase the results of their residency in one of the world’s most iconic cities.
Application for Summer and Fall Slots
Deadline of application for artists wishing to join the residency in New York for the summer and fall slots commencing on 1 July – 30 September 2019 and on 1 October – 31 December 2019. The open call will run from 1 January to 1 March 2019. Qatari artists, 18 years old and above, are encouraged to apply through the Fire Station website.
ISCP residents are generally five to 10 years into their professional practice and would be described as emerging to mid-career. The residency is open to artists working across all media, including painting, sculpture, photography, performance, installation, illustration, drawing and filmmaking, among others.
