The Recanati-Kaplan Prize aims to support artistic and intellectual exchanges between the United States, France, and the Arab world. Each year, a creator, cultural professional, or researcher from the Arab world who is pursuing an original research project requiring an immersive stay in the United States in the fields of arts and ideas is awarded the prize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The winner will receive: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The winner will join the 2026 cohort of Villa Albertine, which will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its residency program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Applications must be submitted by November 20, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (Paris time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eligibility Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications are open to any creator, cultural expert, or scholar from the Arab world proposing an original research project in the realm of arts and ideas that would require an immersive visit to the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each applicant will have to propose a residency project on a theme of their choice, focusing on contemporary issues affecting the United States and one or more countries in the Arab world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must hold the nationality of one of the following countries: Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, or Yemen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must be fluent in English. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must be available to complete a two-month residency in the fall of 2026 (i.e. any time between the months of September and December 2026). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications may only be submitted on an individual basis. Group applications will not be accepted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must be at least 21 years of age prior to the proposed start date of their residency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must be able to adapt to potential constraints of their proposed residency location. For example, it is strongly advised that they hold a driver\u2019s license if traveling to large metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Residency Location<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Candidates are asked to organize their residency in a territory that makes sense in terms of the themes they wish to explore. The residency project can focus on the city of their choice. The winner will be accompanied by Villa Albertine’s nearest office amongst the ten cities in which it is based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cities where Villa Albertine has established a permanent office are: Atlanta, GA<\/a>; Boston, MA<\/a>; Chicago, IL<\/a>; Houston, TX<\/a>; Los Angeles, CA<\/a>; Miami, FL<\/a>; New York, NY<\/a>; New Orleans, LA<\/a>; San Francisco, CA<\/a>; and Washington, DC<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Residency Projects<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants are advised to propose their exploratory residency project within a US city that would foster original artistic or intellectual reflection not likely to be developed elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The concept of the exploratory residency project should not be thought of as indoor desk work, but rather as a field investigation that inspires and builds new connections. The project\u2019s value lies in its relationship to the location. As such, meetings, visits, events, and exchanges will all help enrich the work carried out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proposed projects must address a societal issue that resonates both in the United States and the Arab world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The residency is not limited to one specific form, e.g. material art, as would be the case with a production-based residency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All disciplines related to the arts, culture, and ideas are welcome, including visual arts, design, architecture, performing arts, music, cinema, digital creation, fiction writing, comics, social sciences, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Support from Villa Albertine<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n For their stay in the United States, a lineup of meetings, visits, and events will be established for the resident, according to their project and needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Villa Albertine will support the resident by providing access to its knowledge of the local arts and culture scene and its network of partners. At the same time, Villa Albertine’s residency model values initiative and independence in candidates, which are essential for getting the most out of a field research experience involving contact with a wide range of American contacts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Villa Albertine will cover program-related travel and living expenses through the following arrangements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Villa Albertine cannot cover any costs other than the aforementioned travel and living expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Selection Criteria<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The criteria for assessing an application are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Application Process <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications are to be submitted following this link<\/a> before November 20 2025, 11:59 p.m. (Paris time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The application form is divided into three main sections, which need to be written in English: \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Presentation of the applicant\u2019s career and work in PDF format, limited to 10 pages and 10 MB (e.g. resume and summary of a small selection of projects related to the project theme.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n A three-minute video in which the candidate speaks in English. A very good level of conversational English is essential to complete the residency successfully. This video should demonstrate the candidate’s level of English. Candidates are invited to introduce themselves and discuss their project for the Recanati-Kaplan Prize, without reading from a prepared text. The video should be uploaded to a platform such as YouTube or Vimeo, set to \u201cunlisted\u201d mode so that it is only accessible to people who have the viewing link. If your video is password protected, please provide us with the password. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any applications deemed incomplete or failing to meet these conditions will not be considered. Any untruthful representations will automatically render the application null and void.\u00a0 Applicants will be informed of their status by March 2026.\u00a0Villa Albertine will not host any resident who is unable to meet the requirements for entry into the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Previous Winners <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover the projects of the three previous winners of the Recanati-Kaplan prize <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n