The Critical Practice Programme is made up of longer-term studio support, critique and production for practicing contemporary artists and curators living and working in Dubai. The programme generally culminates in an exhibition, publication and ongoing contributions to the Tashkeel website at key points in the programme. Each programme is carefully constructed and built around the individual candidates’ practices and/or area of research. Tashkeel works with the artist or curator to identify a key collaborator/mentor to build, challenge and work with them through the programme. This collaborator can be an artist, curator, critic or arts professional with whom the artist feels both comfortable working but also, whose own area of research and/or practice ties in with the proposed programme and focus areas.

The aim of the programme is to provide the artist/curator with sustained and empowering support to develop their work in an environment that encourages progressive experimentation, cross-discipline exchange and cross-cultural dialogue. The curation of the courses remain responsive to the social, cultural and political contexts inherent in Dubai and the wider Middle East. The programme feeds into Tashkeel’s exhibition programme, with the majority of the five yearly exhibitions being a result of the Critical Practice Programme.