The collectives residency: a decubator

Independent cultural initiatives often begin with a shared desire: to create the conditions for something that does not yet exist. They emerge through collaboration, mutual support, and the willingness to experiment with new ways of working. Yet sustaining these efforts can be just as challenging as starting them. Questions of time, resources, organizational structures, and long-term continuity become inseparable from artistic and cultural practice itself

The collectives residency: a decubator is a year-long program for emerging cultural and artistic initiatives, collectives, and collaborative projects based in Jordan. Designed for groups in moments of formation, transition, or redefinition, the program offers the time, support, and community needed to strengthen both their work and the ways they work together

At its core, the residency is built around three interconnected strands. It brings together a cohort of initiatives to exchange experiences, develop lasting relationships, and build a network of peers capable of supporting one another beyond the duration of the program. It offers a series of workshops, mentorship sessions, and discussions focused on the practical and organizational realities of running a collective, from governance and financial sustainability to communication, fundraising, and long-term planning. Finally, a number of participating initiatives will be invited to temporarily inhabit one of mmag's studios, giving them dedicated space to gather, experiment, and focus on developing their projects

Rather than proposing a single model for how cultural initiatives should function, the residency understands that each collective develops according to its own needs, ambitions, and circumstances. The program therefore approaches organizational development as an open and collaborative process, grounded in shared learning, critical reflection, and the exchange of knowledge amongst participants, mentors, and invited practitioners

Over the course of the year, the cohort will take part in monthly workshops, study groups, mentoring sessions, case-study discussions, and collective reflections, culminating in a public moment of sharing and a publication documenting the knowledge generated throughout the program. While each initiative will pursue its own trajectory, the residency is conceived as a space where collective questions can be explored together: How do we build sustainable structures? How do we care for the people who make cultural work possible? What kinds of organizations do our contexts require today?

The Collectives residency is an invitation to think collectively, not only about individual projects, but about the broader cultural landscape we are shaping together. By creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support, the program seeks to contribute to a stronger, more connected cultural field in Jordan and the wider region

We welcome applications from artist collectives, independent cultural initiatives, research groups, publishing projects, community-led platforms, and other collaborative practices working across artistic and cultural disciplines. Whether your initiative is just beginning or entering a new phase of its development, we invite you to apply

This residency is made possible through a fund from AFAC under their Training and Regional Events Grant program

follow this link for application form