STAPLES Call for Artists in Egypt and Morocco
Application deadline:
- The deadline for the Egypt Call has been postponed to 22 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
- The Morocco Call is now closed.
Call for Artists – Live Artistic Creation at STAPLES Multi-Stakeholder Validation Dialogues in Egypt and Morocco
Transform scientific knowledge and innovation into live artistic experiences to foster dialogue among policymakers and stakeholders for more resilient and competitive cereal value chains across the Mediterranean region.
STAPLES Project, part of the PRIMA Partnership Programme, is seeking artists based in Morocco and Egypt to participate in the STAPLES project by creating live artworks during one of the two Multi–Stakeholder Validation Dialogues that will take place in Cairo (Egypt) on 9 November 2026, and in Rabat (Morocco) on 1 December 2026, both from 9:00 to 17:30 local time.
About STAPLES
STAPLES is a PRIMA-funded initiative that aims to strengthen the resilience of food systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a particular focus on Morocco and Egypt.
Countries in the MENA region are highly exposed to external shocks affecting international cereal markets due to their strong dependence on imports and limited domestic production capacity, partly linked to increasing water scarcity. These vulnerabilities have become more evident in recent years as a result of geopolitical tensions, market disruptions, climate-related events, and fluctuations in global commodity prices.
STAPLES brings together universities, research organisations, think tanks, cooperatives, and business networks from Italy, Spain, Morocco, and Egypt to generate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge on the external stressors and shocks affecting cereal value chains and food security.
The project develops innovative solutions, policy recommendations, and practical strategies that governments, private sector actors, and other stakeholders can use to strengthen the resilience of food systems. It also develops digital tools, including a Dashboard and a Decision Support System, to help stakeholders anticipate risks, improve preparedness, and support informed decision-making.
As part of its stakeholder engagement activities, STAPLES is organising Multi-Stakeholder Validation Dialogues in Morocco and Egypt to discuss project findings, validate recommendations, and foster dialogue among policymakers, researchers, businesses, civil society organisations, and other key actors involved in food systems and cereal value chains.
The assignment
STAPLES will select up to four artists, two in Morocco and two in Egypt, to develop original artworks live during the STAPLES Multi-Stakeholder Validation Dialogues, which will take place:
- In Cairo, Egypt, on 9 November 2026, 09:00-17:30 UTC+3
- In Rabat, Morocco, on 1 December 2026, 09:00-17:30 UTC+1
The selected artists will be invited to attend the full-day event and produce an artwork in real time, inspired by the discussions, exchanges, and key messages emerging from the dialogue. Artists will have a total of six hours, from the start of the event until the dedicated artwork presentation session, to create their pieces live.
During the presentation session, each artist will have 10 minutes to present their artwork, followed by a joint 10-minute Q&A with both artists.
The objective is to transform complex discussions on agriculture, sustainability, water, and human development into creative and engaging visual expressions that capture the essence of the project.
Artists are encouraged to propose formats that can be produced live during the event, including (but not limited to):
- Painting
- Drawing
- Illustration
- Sculpture
- Mixed media
- Graphic recording / visual facilitation
- Other visual artistic approaches
Participation in the STAPLES Final Event
In addition to participating in a national STAPLES Multi-Stakeholder Validation Dialogue, the selected artists will be invited to present their artworks at the STAPLES final event in Barcelona in April 2027.
Travel and accommodation costs associated with this participation will be covered by the project. The maximum travel budget and the arrangements for covering travel costs will be specified in the agreement signed with the selected artists. No additional artist fee or remuneration will be provided for this second participation.
Budget
The available budget is €1,000 per artist for the live artistic creation during the one-day national dialogue and participation in the project’s final event.
In addition, a maximum allocation of €250 per selected artist will be available to cover eligible internal travel costs within their country of residence, as well as the cost of materials purchased to prepare and exhibit the artworks (e.g. paints, canvases, etc.). These expenses are subject to prior approval and must be backed by appropriate supporting documentation (e.g. invoices,
proofs of payment).
Applicants wishing to benefit from this additional allocation are requested to include, as part of their application, a description of the proposed itinerary and/or materials to be purchased.
Selection criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria and weights:
- Artistic quality and originality (35%)
- Relevance and fit of previous work with the themes of STAPLES (water, sustainability, environment, agriculture, resilience, development, etc.) (25%)
- Demonstrated ability to create artwork live during public events (20%)
- References and professional reliability (20%)
Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of representatives of the STAPLES consortium and, where appropriate, relevant local partners.
Where possible, the project will aim to select artists with complementary artistic approaches, so that each national dialogue benefits from diverse creative interpretations of the STAPLES themes.
Application requirement
Interested artists should submit:
- Call for Artists Application Form, using the provided template, which includes:
- Applicant information
- Eligibility declaration
- Motivation statement
- References
- List of attached documents
- Declaration and signature
- Portfolio and/or examples of previous work
- Updated Curriculum Vitae
Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- Based in Morocco (for the Rabat event) or Egypt (for the Cairo event)
- Legally able to provide artistic services and enter into a contractual agreement.
- Able to communicate in English with the STAPLES project team (B1 level)
- Available to participate in the STAPLES Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue scheduled in their country on the relevant event date
- Able to travel to Spain to participate in the final STAPLES event, scheduled for April 2027 (final date TBC). Selected artists will be responsible for ensuring that they hold a valid passport and, where applicable, for applying for any visa required for travel to Spain in a timely manner.
Applications from women artists are especially encouraged. STAPLES aims to ensure that at least half of the selected artists are women.
How to apply
Applicants should submit their application package by email to info@euromed-economists.org.
- Deadline for the Egypt Call is by 31 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
- Deadline for the Morocco Call is by 22 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
The email subject line should clearly indicate the country of application and the artist’s name: STAPLES Live Art Application – Morocco – [Name of the artist] or STAPLES Live Art Application – Egypt – [Name of the artist]
Applications should include all required documents and information listed above. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for a brief follow-up exchange before the final selection.
The selected artists will be required to sign a service agreement with our project partner, leading the organisation of the initiative, Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) before the event.
For any questions regarding the application process, applicants may contact EMEA by email at info@euromed-economists.org, copying mruizdecossio@euromed-economists.org, with the subject line: Clarification – STAPLES Live Art Application.
We look forward to receiving creative proposals that can help translate the discussions and outcomes of the STAPLES project into compelling artistic expressions.
STAPLES reserves the right to amend, suspend, or cancel this call at any stage of the selection process, or to conclude the selection process without selecting any applicant, without incurring any liability towards the applicants.
This Open Call announcement was carried out within the framework of the STAPLES project, part of the PRIMA Programme, supported by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 2333. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the PRIMA Foundation or the European Union, and neither of them can be held responsible for the information contained.
