Open Call: Behind the Scenes (Yemen)

On Aug 18, 2026

The Goethe-Institut Jordan is inviting artists and cultural practitioners residing in Yemen to apply for the “Behind the Scenes” grants under the Yemen Creative Hubs programme. The initiative will provide 14 grants of €1,500 each for artistic and socio-cultural projects that explore mental health themes such as anxiety, loneliness, fear, trauma, depression, and emotional distress through creative expression.

About the Yemen Creative Hubs “Behind the Scenes” Grant

The Yemen Creative Hubs programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Goethe-Institut together with consortium partners.

The programme supports artists and cultural practitioners in Yemen by creating opportunities for artistic expression, experimentation, and socio-cultural engagement in Aden, Mukalla, Sana’a, and Taiz.

The “Behind the Scenes” grant focuses specifically on the relationship between art, emotional wellbeing, and mental health. Artists are encouraged to explore emotions and experiences that are often hidden or difficult to express publicly.

Projects can use different artistic disciplines to make these experiences visible, tangible, and open to discussion.

What Is the “Behind the Scenes” Theme?

The theme encourages applicants to creatively explore internal emotional experiences that may remain invisible to others.

Possible themes include:

Loneliness and isolation
Anxiety and fear
Depression
Trauma
Inner tension
Deep worries
Emotional distress
Hidden feelings
Personal or collective experiences affecting mental wellbeing

The programme views artistic expression as a way to explore, communicate, and potentially transform experiences related to mental health.

Applicants do not need to work exclusively in traditional visual arts. A wide range of creative disciplines is eligible.

Grant Amount and Funding Details

Each selected project will receive:

Grant amount: €1,500
Number of grants: 14
Total number of supported projects: 14
Approximate value in USD: $1,600 per grant
Project implementation period: November 2026 to March 2027

The grant is intended to support artistic and socio-cultural projects that respond meaningfully to the “Behind the Scenes” theme.

Applicants should ensure that their proposed project is realistic within the available funding and implementation period.

Eligible Artistic Disciplines

The programme accepts applications across a broad range of artistic and cultural practices.

Visual Arts

Eligible projects may include:

Photography
Painting
Drawing
Sculpture
Installation art

Film, Video and Digital Media

Applicants may propose:

Short films
Animation
Digital illustration
Multimedia projects
Video-based artistic projects

Performing Arts

Eligible practices include:

Music and Sound

Projects may involve:

Music compositions
Oral storytelling
Soundscapes
Podcasts
Experimental sound projects

Craft and Design

Eligible creative practices include:

Textile art
Fashion
Product design
Object-making

Graphic and Mixed Media

Applicants may also propose:

Posters
Visual storytelling
Mixed-media projects
Experimental graphic works

Who Is Eligible?

The grant is intended for individual artists and cultural practitioners residing in Yemen.

Applicants must:

Be an individual artist or cultural practitioner.
Be residing in Yemen.
Be over 18 years old on the application deadline.
Submit a project that addresses the “Behind the Scenes” mental health theme.
Be able to implement the proposed project between November 2026 and March 2027.

The programme welcomes applications from artists working across different creative disciplines.

Who Is Not Eligible?

Certain previous grantees are excluded from applying.

The eligibility rules include:

Former Yemen Creative Hubs I grantees may apply if their new proposal builds upon their previous work.
Grantees of “Building Togetherness” under Yemen Creative Hubs II are not eligible.
Grantees of “Our Heritage Shines” under Yemen Creative Hubs II are not eligible.

Applicants should carefully check their previous participation in Yemen Creative Hubs programmes before submitting an application.

Priority for Women and Underrepresented Applicants

The programme particularly encourages applications from:

Women artists
People living with chronic illnesses
People with disabilities

The programme aims for at least 50% of the grants to be awarded to women.

This emphasis is intended to encourage broader and more diverse participation in Yemen’s creative and cultural sector.

Why This Grant Matters

The “Behind the Scenes” programme connects creative practice, cultural participation, and mental health awareness.

Many emotional experiences remain difficult to communicate through conventional public discussions. Artistic methods can provide alternative ways to express personal and collective experiences.

The programme can therefore help artists:

Explore difficult emotional themes through creative work.
Encourage conversations about mental health.
Create culturally relevant forms of expression.
Connect personal experiences with wider social issues.
Strengthen creative and socio-cultural activity in Yemen.
Give greater visibility to experiences that are often overlooked.

The initiative also contributes to the broader development of creative spaces and opportunities for artists in Yemen.

What Types of Projects Could Be Proposed?

A strong proposal should clearly connect the artistic approach with the “Behind the Scenes” theme.

Potential project concepts could include:

A photography project exploring loneliness among young people.
A short film examining anxiety and hidden emotional experiences.
A theatre or performance project about trauma and recovery.
A sound-art project representing fear, isolation, or inner tension.
A visual storytelling project exploring depression and social stigma.
A textile or mixed-media project representing emotional memories.
A digital art project examining invisible aspects of mental wellbeing.
An oral storytelling project exploring personal experiences of emotional distress.

These are examples of possible approaches rather than prescribed project formats.

How the Grant Works

Selected artists will receive financial support to develop and implement their approved artistic projects during the programme period.

The projects must be implemented between:

November 2026 and March 2027

The proposed work should therefore be achievable within the available timeframe and €1,500 grant budget.

Applicants should focus on developing a clear connection between:

Mental health theme → artistic concept → activities → expected creative or social outcome

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants should develop a proposal that is clear, focused, and directly connected to the programme theme.

1. Define the Mental Health Theme

Identify the emotional or mental health issue your project will explore.

For example:

Anxiety
Loneliness
Trauma
Fear
Depression
Hidden emotional struggles

2. Explain the Artistic Concept

Describe what you want to create and why your chosen artistic medium is appropriate.

Explain how the creative work will make the selected theme visible or understandable.

3. Describe the Activities

Clearly outline what you will actually do during the project.

This could include:

4. Prepare a Realistic Budget

The maximum grant is €1,500, so the project should be appropriately scaled.

Budget planning should demonstrate how the available funding will directly support project implementation.

5. Demonstrate Your Artistic Experience

Applicants should present relevant artistic or cultural experience that demonstrates their ability to complete the proposed project.

Previous artistic work, portfolios, exhibitions, performances, publications, or other relevant activities can help establish credibility where requested by the application process.

6. Consider Inclusion

Projects that thoughtfully consider participation and representation can align well with the programme’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

Applicants should explain how their project responds to its intended audience or community where relevant.

Important Tips for Applicants

Keep the proposal practical and specific.

Applicants should:

Address the “Behind the Scenes” theme directly.
Avoid submitting a generic artistic project with only a superficial reference to mental health.
Explain the relationship between the chosen medium and the topic.
Keep the project achievable within €1,500.
Provide a realistic implementation plan.
Clearly describe the intended creative or social impact.
Check previous Yemen Creative Hubs participation carefully.
Highlight relevant artistic experience.
Ensure the project can be completed between November 2026 and March 2027.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing projects unrelated to mental health themes.
Requesting more funding than the programme provides.
Presenting an overly ambitious project that cannot be completed within the grant period.
Failing to explain the artistic methodology.
Ignoring eligibility restrictions for previous grantees.
Submitting incomplete application information.
Treating the project as a purely commercial activity without a clear artistic or socio-cultural purpose.

Project Locations and Yemen Creative Hubs

The Yemen Creative Hubs programme supports creative activity in several locations, including:

Aden
Mukalla
Sana’a
Taiz

Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities comply with the programme’s specific implementation requirements.

Key Facts at a Glance

Programme: Yemen Creative Hubs – “Behind the Scenes”
Implementing organisation: Goethe-Institut and consortium partners
Funding source: European Union
Applicant location: Yemen
Applicant type: Individual artists and cultural practitioners
Minimum age: Over 18
Grant amount: €1,500 per project
Number of grants: 14
Project period: November 2026–March 2027
Main theme: Mental health and hidden emotional experiences
Priority applicants: Women, people with chronic illnesses, and people with disabilities
Women’s participation target: At least 50% of grants
Eligible disciplines: Visual arts, film, digital media, performing arts, music, sound, craft, design, graphic and mixed media

FAQ

What is the Yemen Creative Hubs “Behind the Scenes” grant?

It is an artistic grant programme supporting artists and cultural practitioners residing in Yemen to develop projects that creatively explore mental health themes such as anxiety, loneliness, fear, depression, trauma, and emotional distress.

How much funding does each selected artist receive?

Each selected project receives €1,500. The programme plans to award 14 grants.

Who can apply for the grant?

Individual artists and cultural practitioners who are over 18 and residing in Yemen can apply, subject to the programme’s full eligibility requirements.

What types of art projects are eligible?

The programme accepts projects in visual arts, photography, film, video, digital media, theatre, dance, performance, music, sound, storytelling, craft, design, graphic art, and mixed media.

When must projects take place?

Supported projects must be implemented between November 2026 and March 2027.

Are women encouraged to apply?

Yes. The programme particularly encourages applications from women and aims for at least 50% of grants to go to women. People living with chronic illnesses or disabilities are also encouraged to apply.

Can previous Yemen Creative Hubs grantees apply?

Some previous grantees can apply. Yemen Creative Hubs I grantees may apply when their new project builds on previous work. However, grantees of “Building Togetherness” and “Our Heritage Shines” under Yemen Creative Hubs II are not eligible.

Conclusion

The Yemen Creative Hubs “Behind the Scenes” Grant provides an opportunity for Yemeni artists and cultural practitioners to use creative practice to explore often-hidden experiences of mental health and emotional wellbeing. With 14 grants of €1,500, the programme supports diverse artistic approaches while encouraging greater participation by women and people with disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Applicants should develop focused, realistic projects that clearly connect their artistic practice with themes such as anxiety, loneliness, trauma, fear, depression, or other hidden emotional experiences, while ensuring that all eligibility and implementation requirements are met.

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