The Arts Club Dubai selects Salma Almansoori and Sylvia Ong for inaugural artist residency

The Arts Club Dubai has launched its first Artist Residency Programme with Emirati visual artist Salma Almansoori and Malaysian artist Sylvia Ong as the inaugural participants. Almansoori's work explores UAE landscapes and cultural memory through drawing, painting, and photography, while Ong creates vibrant abstract paintings informed by her cinematography background. The programme received 99 applications earlier this year, with six artists—Jude Maharmeh, Zahra Jewanjee, Mary Claire Kirwan, Noor Bseiso, Samo Shalaby, and Iryna Yermolova—receiving honorable mentions. A four-stage selection process involving a committee of arts professionals determined the finalists. The remote residency model provides financial support, mentorship, and international visibility to empower emerging artistic voices across the UAE. According to Ajaz Sheikh, Group CEO of The Arts Club Dubai, this initiative reflects the club's commitment to regional talent and Dubai's diverse artistic practice while maintaining international connections. The programme will conclude with an exhibition in April 2026.