Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship Fund Launches
Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched and is now accepting applications for the Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship Fund, which offers budding music industry professionals scholarships to study at Berklee Abu Dhabi, as well as Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, Berklee NYC, and Berklee Online.
Providing students with an opportunity to pursue their passions abroad while advancing their education through access to Berklee’s state-of-the-art academic programs and creative spaces, the fellowships are open to applicants based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), and the larger Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region.
To be eligible, students must have attended the Berklee Abu Dhabi Center, Berklee's first outpost in the Middle East, and meet the standard requirements for admission to Berklee’s undergraduate, graduate, and summer semester programs. Students will be granted scholarships following a rigorous assessment and shortlisting process.
“At Berklee, our vision is to create an interconnected ecosystem of campuses, centers, and partnerships around the world that foster and inspire new artistic expressions through educational programs, enterprises, and endeavors that serve both the broader Berklee community and the regional communities where these efforts will be underway,” said Berklee President Erica Muhl. “Mindful that talent is universal, but opportunity is not, the Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship Fund will provide significant pathways for talented students from across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia to participate in artistic education at the highest level, opening up limitless creative possibilities.”
The fellowship fund underscores DCT Abu Dhabi and Berklee Abu Dhabi’s shared commitment to nurturing young musicians and industry professionals in the region, positioning the emirate as a hub for music and cultural excellence and exchange.
“In line with Abu Dhabi’s designation as a City of Music by the UNESCO Creative City Network, we are supporting the next generation of musicians and artists and ensuring that the UAE capital remains a vibrant and dynamic global center for culture and arts,” said H.E. Saood Al Hosani, undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi. “As we aim to nurture creative talent in the emirate and wider region, the Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship Fund will provide selected recipients with an unparalleled opportunity to hone their skills and realize their dreams of a career in performing arts.”
Berklee Abu Dhabi provides a top-tier arts education experience led by world-renowned artists and instructors, with the goal to transform arts education in the Middle East and nurture the region’s next generation of performing artists. At the heart of the program is the Berklee Abu Dhabi Center, which launched in 2020 in partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi. The center designs meaningful educational engagement for learners of all levels that foster creative and professional development, as well as a free and robust exchange of ideas in an expanding arts and culture scene.
“Berklee is committed to nurturing talent and developing creative industry professionals who can impact the thriving cultural, educational, and performing arts industries in the emirate and wider MENASA region,” said María Martínez Iturriaga, senior vice president for international learning environments and executive director of Berklee Valencia. “The Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship Fund is essential in furthering this mission and supporting emerging regional talent for years to come.”
To apply for the Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship, visit berkleeabudhabi.ae.
