The Arts Club Dubai Unveils Artists for Inaugural Residency Programme

Marking a new chapter in its cultural programming, The Arts Club Dubai announced Salma Almansoori and Sylvia Ong as the selected artists for its first Artist Residency Programme. 

Salma Almansoori is an Emirati visual artist whose practice spans drawing, painting and photography. Her practice often delves into themes of landscape and cultural memory of the UAE. Sylvia Ong is a Malaysian artist based in Dubai who blends her background in cinematography and visual production to create vibrant abstract paintings that express nature’s harmony. 

The new initiative aims to empower emerging artistic voiced across the UAE by offering financial support, mentorship and international visibility. Participants will engage in a remote residency model that encourages research, experimentation and exchange, reflecting the dynamic and evolving landscape of the region’s creative art scene. 
 
The open call earlier this year drew 99 applicants, underscoring the growing appetite for the artist development opportunities in the UAE. Following a four-stage selection process, a committee of arts professionals reviewed each proposal before coming to a decision. Alongside the two selected artist, six received an honourable mention for their submissions: Jude Maharmeh, Zahra Jewanjee, Mary Claire Kirwan, Noor Bseiso, Samo Shalaby and Iryna Yermolova. 
 
“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,” notes Ajaz Sheikh, Group CEO of The Arts Club Dubai. 
 
The Artist Residency Programme will culminate in an exhibition in April 2026.