Tasweer Opens Applications for 2026–27 Photography Residency

Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar has announced the open call for the Tasweer Residency 2026–27, inviting photographers and visual storytellers based in Qatar to apply for its second edition. The open call for applications for the residency runs from 21 July to 3 September. The residency will take place at Bayt Al Wakrah, located at the historic Old Al Wakrah City, providing participants with the time, mentorship and resources to develop ambitious new bodies of work.

Open to Qatar-based creatives aged 21 and above, the residency welcomes documentary, conceptual and experimental photography projects that explore the connections between people, culture, memory and the environment. This year’s programme is centred on the concept of “athar”, an Arabic word meaning traces, imprints and legacies, encouraging participants to reflect on photography as both a record of the present and a medium for reimagining it.

Three selected residents will each receive a dedicated studio space, a monthly stipend of QAR 4,000, and mentorship from leading photography professionals. The programme will culminate in the exhibition, As the Image Unfolds: The Language of Athar, during the 2027 Tasweer Festival, alongside an online zine documenting the residents’ creative journeys.

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.”

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2025, the residency continues Tasweer’s commitment to nurturing photographic talent through production support, curatorial guidance, access to cultural institutions and opportunities for public engagement.