Sahab Lab #2
Sahab Lab #2
Sahab Lab #2
Sahab Lab is an artistic program designed to support and accompany Palestinian artists through a combined approach of mentorship, financial support, and creative production.
Building on the first edition (2025), which focused on healing and reconnection to artistic practice, this second iteration shifts towards a more production-oriented model. It ensures that artists are not only supported in their process, but also enabled to complete and disseminate new works.
In a context marked by the destruction of cultural infrastructures and the isolation of artists, Sahab Lab functions as an alternative, decentralized platform, providing the resources, time, and collaborative environment necessary to sustain artistic practices.
Each year, the program supports 10 artists over 10 to 12 weeks, culminating in the production of new works integrated into Sahab’s broader ecosystem (museum, publications, public programs).
Central to its approach is a refusal of extractive cultural practices. Sahab prioritizes the accompaniment of artists by designing frameworks in which they are not only represented, but also materially supported and meaningfully involved at every stage of the process.
While the first Sahab Lab highlighted the importance of a supportive framework, it also revealed the need for stronger production support. This second edition addresses that gap by integrating financial support for both participation and production, enabling concrete artistic outcomes.
General Objective : To support Palestinian artists in developing sustainable artistic practices through a combined process of mentorship, financial support, and production.
Objectives of the program
- Provide a structured and safe environment for artistic development and critical reflection
- Support the creation of new artworks rooted in the artists experiences and enable the completion of artistic projects through production grants
- Foster exchange, networks and collective learning, through the creation of a network of mentors supporting the program and artists
- Contribute to the documentation and dissemination of contemporary Palestinian artistic practices
The program supports 10 Palestinian artists (with priority given to Gaza-based artists), working across disciplines including visual arts, writing, film, performance, and hybrid practices.
It is open to emerging and mid-career artists, as well as non-traditional creative profiles, reflecting Sahab’s inclusive approach to artistic practice.
4 months :
- Applications and Selection committee : Nov/Dec
Sahab Lab is structured in four phases, guiding participants from recovery to production.
- Phase 1 : Recovery: emotional support and group cohesion (mentor : psychologist)
- Phase 2 : Reflection: development of ideas and artistic direction (mentor : artist-curator duos)
- Phase 3 : Creation : experimentation (mentor : artist-curator duos)
- Phase 4 : Finalization & Dissemination: production, completion and integration into Sahab platforms (mentor : artist-curator duos)
This final phase is central, as it connects individual projects to Sahab’s broader ecosystem. The works produced feed into exhibitions, publications, and public programs, creating a continuous cycle of production and visibility supported by the crowdfunding.
Next stesm : Dissemination within the Sahab Ecosystem : the projects are integrated into Sahab’s platforms and programs, including publications, exhibitions, workshops, artworks, and podcasts -> ensuring visibility, continuity, and further development opportunities.
The program will involve : 5 mentors (psychologist, artists, curators, writers, researchers)
A local coordinator responsible for the relation with the artists and logistics
