Opportunities

For writers & artists.

A curated hub of fellowships, residencies, grants, open calls, competitions, and publishing opportunities for Pakistan's creative community.

⚠ All listings are sample placeholder content for demonstration purposes.

Calls for Submission

Open right now.

Fellowship · Deadline 15 Aug 2026

[Sample] Arts Council Writing Fellowship 2026

Six-month funded fellowship for emerging writers across Pakistan. Open to fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Stipend of PKR 100,000 per month, plus mentorship from a senior Pakistani author.

Open Fiction · Poetry · Non-Fiction
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Residency · Deadline 31 Aug 2026

[Sample] Islamabad Artist Residency — Winter 2026

Two-month residential programme for visual artists and writers. Studio space, accommodation, and a monthly living allowance of PKR 80,000 provided. Applications from across Pakistan welcome.

Open Visual Arts · Writing
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Grant · Deadline 1 Sep 2026

[Sample] Cultural Heritage Documentation Grant

Funding up to PKR 500,000 for research and documentation projects focused on Pakistan's living cultural heritage. Oral histories, endangered language documentation, and traditional craft research all eligible.

Open Research · Documentation
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Competition · Deadline 15 Sep 2026

[Sample] National Short Story Competition — Urdu & English

Annual short fiction competition open to Pakistani writers in Urdu and English. First prize PKR 200,000 and publication in a leading literary journal. No entry fee. Open to published and unpublished writers.

Open Urdu · English · Fiction
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Publishing · Open Submissions

[Sample] Sang-e-Meel Publications — Open Submissions Window

Pakistan's leading independent publisher opens quarterly manuscript submissions for Urdu fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and translated works. Full details and submission requirements on publisher's website.

Open Urdu · Translation
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Fellowship · Deadline 30 Sep 2026

[Sample] Aga Khan Cultural Service — Creative Practice Fellowship

Annual fellowship supporting creative practitioners working at the intersection of cultural heritage and contemporary practice. Open to artists, architects, writers, and cultural researchers from Pakistan and the wider region.

Open Cross-disciplinary
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Resources & Toolkits

Guides for emerging practitioners.

Toolkit

Getting Your First Book Published in Pakistan

A practical guide to Pakistan's publishing landscape: finding a publisher, the submission process, print-on-demand options, and self-publishing.

Toolkit

A Visual Artist's Guide to Grants & Exhibitions

How to write an artist statement, apply for grants, approach galleries, and build a portfolio that represents your practice.

Toolkit

Writing for Stage & Screen in Pakistan

A guide for aspiring drama writers: formatting scripts, understanding the industry, approaching producers, and submitting to competitions.

Cultural Institutions

Key organisations.

Pakistan Academy of Letters

National body promoting Pakistani literature in all languages. Grants, publications, and recognition programmes.

Arts Council of Pakistan

Government cultural body with major centres in Karachi and Lahore, running exhibitions, performances, and workshops.

National College of Arts, Lahore

Pakistan's leading arts institution. Offers postgraduate fellowships and collaborates on public programming.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Major international cultural institution with significant heritage and contemporary arts programmes in Pakistan.