THE ARTS CLUB ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Salmah Almansoori & Sylvia Ong selected out of 99 applicants

Following an open call earlier this year, The Arts Club Dubai is pleased to share the names of the two artists selected for its 2025–2026 Artist Residency Programme, which officially begins on 27^th October 2025: Salmah Almansoori and Sylvia Ong, two female artists based in Dubai.

From a strong pool of applicants, the two residents were selected through a rigorous four-stage process. Each submission was individually reviewed and scored by the residency committee, before the highest-ranking applications were collectively assessed in a final meeting. Two artists were unanimously selected to take part in the programme, with the committee also naming six shortlisted finalists for honourable mention: Jude Maharmeh, Zahra Jewanjee, Mary Claire Kirwan, Noor Bseiso, Samo Shalaby, and Iryna Yermolova.

Shaped to support early-career artists in the UAE, the remote six-month residency offers critical support in the form of funding, mentorship, and visibility, culminating in a final exhibition at the Club in April 2026.

Commenting on the announcement, Ajaz Sheikh, Group CEO of The Arts Club Dubai said: “This first phase of the Artist Residency Programme represents a significant step in our commitment to supporting emerging talent from the region. Welcoming Salmah and Sylvia reflects not only the diversity of artistic practice in Dubai, but the spirit of the city itself. It also underscores the dual nature of the Club’s identity: deeply rooted in the local landscape, while actively connected to the wider international art world.”

He continued: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our committee for their care, and commitment in shaping this first residency. Their guidance has been invaluable in helping us establish a thoughtful foundation, one we look forward to building upon in the years ahead.”

Salmah Almansoori (b. 2001, UAE)
An Emirati visual artist and graduate of Zayed University, Salmah’s practice spans drawing, painting, and photography, often exploring themes connected to the landscape and cultural memory of the UAE. Her proposal stood out for its quiet clarity, conceptual maturity, and the authenticity of her visual language.  The residency will offer her space to refine her approach and deepen her engagement with the themes that ground her work. Recent exhibitions include solo presentations in Dubai and Ventimiglia, and participation in Abu Dhabi Art .

Sylvia Ong (b. 1980,  Malaysia)
Sylvia’s work is rooted in abstract painting, characterised by technical strength and compositional refinement. Her recent exhibitions include solo shows in Brussels and Paris. The committee recognised that Sylvia is at a significant stage of evolution in her practice, where her strong foundations are opening onto deeper emotional and conceptual development. The residency will provide a space for Sylvia to evolve her visual vocabulary, guided by mentorship and critical dialogue.

The Artist Residency Programme at The Arts Club Dubai is guided by a nuanced definition of what it means to be “emerging.” It is not defined by age or visibility, but by an artist’s active and evolving engagement with their medium. It recognises those who show coherence, maturity, and discipline, while remaining open to mentorship, experimentation, and new audiences.

As the first private members’ club of its kind in the region, The Arts Club Dubai continues to expand its cultural programming with intent.

The residency is shaped as much by its process as its outcomes, offering artists time, space, and sustained support to develop meaningful new work.

Throughout the six-month term, each artist will be paired with a mentor from the committee, contributing to a programme grounded in thoughtful patronage and enduring creative exchange.

For more information on the full application guidelines, please visit: https://www.theartsclub.ae/artist-residency-programme/