SAHA Sustainability Fund

Open Call | SAHA Sustainability Fund

Open Call for SAHA Sustainability Fund

22 September – 19 October 2025

SAHA is launching an open call for the SAHA Sustainability Fund for 2026, established to support the programs, exhibitions, and publishing projects of independent art initiatives working in the field of visual arts across Turkey. The call is also open to initiatives that have applied or received support in previous years. Applications will be accepted until 19 October 2025, and the results are expected to be announced at the end of November.

Through the Fund, SAHA aims to support 10–12 independent art initiatives with annual grants of up to 200,000 TL each, while also contributing to the development of connections among them.

Eligibility criteria:
- Must be a non-profit, independent, and collective structure operating in the field of contemporary visual arts in Turkey, without engaging in commercial activities,
- Must have a space where it organizes exhibitions or related programs, or a continuous online platform,
- Must present public and free exhibitions, events, or programs in the field of contemporary visual arts throughout 2026.

Application documents:
- A letter of intent explaining the purpose of application (300 words),
- Two visuals and information (250–300 words each, in Turkish and English) about the initiative and its programs for publication,
- The initiative’s planned program, schedule, and projected annual budget for 2026,
- If applicable, information about its program over the past two years and 3 photographs,
- Contact details: address, e-mail, mobile phone number, and if available, website and social media accounts of the initiative or its representative.

Application deadline: Sunday, 19 October 2025, 23:59
- All documents must be submitted in a single PDF file (not exceeding 5 MB) as an e-mail attachment to application@saha.org.tr, with the subject line “SAHA Sustainability Fund 2026.”
- Applications with missing documents or submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Initiatives that have applied in previous years are welcome to re-apply.

About the SAHA Sustainability Fund

Since 2011, SAHA has supported nearly 650 artists, curators, writers, and art initiatives in 46 countries, in their projects realized in non-profit museums, biennials, and art institutions. As a non-profit civil society organization, SAHA provides unconditional support to art through a participatory governance and resource development model with its members, institutional supporters, project partners, and advisors.

Every autumn, SAHA launches an open call for the Sustainability Fund, which was created to contribute to the development of independent, non-profit art initiatives across Turkey and to encourage the continuity of their public programs and activities.

The SAHA Sustainability Fund for Art Initiatives has been utilized by:
- 2014–2015: 5533, Pasaj, Torun
- 2015–2016: Apartman Projesi, BAS, m-est, Torun, Videoist
- 2016–2017: Corridor Project Space, MARS, Orta Format, Space Debris, TOZ Artist Run Space
- 2017–2018: Loading, MARS, OJ, Orta Format, Tasarım Bakkalı
- 2018–2019: Expanded its scope to five cities, supporting AVTO, Hayy Açık Alan, Loading, NOKS, Performistanbul, sub, and Torun
- 2019–2020: Supported A4 Açık Sanat Alanı, AVTO, Eldem Sanat Alanı, Karantina, Loading, Orta Format, Performistanbul, sub in five cities and online platforms
- 2020–2021: 5533, Are Projects, AVTO, Çözümsel Sanat Topluluğu, Darağaç, Kendine Ait Bir Oda, Loading, NOKS, Orta Format, Performistanbul
- 2021–2022: A4 Açık Sanat Alanı, Altatölye, Arazi, Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası, Darağaç, KIRIK, KOLİ Art Space, Kültürhane, Loading, m-est.org, Monitor, sub
- 2023 (expanded to include artist books and independent publishing projects): Supported 8 initiatives and 8 publishing projects from 7 cities, including Garp Sessions, Loading, Merkezkaç, Kültürhane, Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası, Performistanbul, Monitor, and Nesin İstasyon
- 2024: Supported A4, Alan Antakya, Darağaç, Fırın, Kırık, Loading, Mahsul Projesi, Manifold, Nesin İstasyon, Sub, and expanded support for Kültürhane in Mersin
- 2025: Supported Arazi, Fırın, Hayy Açık Alan, Hür Adalar, Karantina, Kırık, Loading, Montag Residency, Poşe Art Space, Selektör Kolektif, Tohum Sanat İnisiyatifi, and Yıkıntılar Arasında Araştırma ve Sanat İnisiyatifi.