A woman in white with long dark hair kneeling near a pond with lily pads, surrounded by tall green grass, with two white and blue snakes in the water.

© Illustration by Shiroug Idriss

Opening

New

Pathways

Making hidden voices visible

Illustrated Arab is an editorial development programme supporting a selection of contemporary visual narrative projects. It helps illustrators and visual authors develop publication-ready work and connect with international publishing networks.

If you wish to share your work or explore future opportunities, kindly get in touch.

For Author/Illustrator
For Author/Illustrator

PROGRAMME BROCHURE

Illustrated Arab – Brochure (French)
Illustrated Arab – Brochure (English)

Curated Artists

first edition 2026/2027

Shiroug Idriss 

Sudan

A woman with brown skin, wearing earrings and her hair in a braid, has a half red mask or face covering with a white eye and a sharp nose overlaying half of her face against a yellow background.

Shiroug is a Sudanese artist and medical and nutrition officer working with Save the Children, with over five years of freelance illustration experience. Her work spans comics, graphic novels, editorial illustration, and children’s books, drawing inspiration from African folklore and Afro-Arab heritage.

Shiroug's Storyboard
Shiroug's Storyboard

Sohila Khaled 

Young woman with a headscarf smiling at the camera while sitting at a desk with notebooks and a pen in an office or study room.

Egypt

Sohila is an Egyptian children’s book illustrator known for her calm, minimalist style inspired by the countryside. She has collaborated with leading Arab publishers and uses techniques like paper collage and digital tools…

Sohila's Storyboard
Sohila's Storyboard

Haya Halaw 

Syria & Germany

A woman in a red and white striped shirt sitting at a desk with art supplies, looking thoughtfully at the camera, with paintings, brushes, and papers in front of her, and a light fixture and plants in the background.

Haya Halaw is an award wining Syrian illustrator/ painter based in Hamburg Germany. Illustrated more than 18 children’s books . Her work also includes comics, Editorials, and paintings…

Haya's Storyboard
Haya's Storyboard
  • Fantasy illustration of an ornate tea party in a whimsical forest setting with fairy-like characters, mushrooms, and fairy houses.
  • Colorful drawing of two women in traditional clothing, sitting cross-legged on a blue patterned mat, with a black cat between them. They are in a desert landscape with palm trees, stylized buildings, and a bright yellow sun in the sky. There are birds flying, pink fish in a blue water area, and decorative patterns surrounding the scene.
  • A stylized illustration of a giant green face with large eyes and striped black and gold hair, with a tiny girl standing in front of it, holding hands and looking up.

Illustrated arab Guests & Creative Contributors

A black-and-white photo of a woman with short dark hair, wearing hoop earrings and a blouse, looking at the camera. The background shows a room with shelves and decorative items.
A man with dark hair, a beard, and a mustache wearing a black shirt and a light-colored scarf standing indoors with a blurred background.

Author of children’s books, translator, and Arabic teacher, active in Italian–Arabic bilingual publishing, based in Milan, Italy.

Alessandra Amorello 

Hassan Manasrah

Palestinian-Jordanian multidisciplinary award winning artist, working across illustration, printmaking, and comics.

Raja Aderdor 

A young woman with a black headscarf and large earrings smiling outdoors, sitting near a window with trees and outdoor furniture visible in the background.

Digital storyteller and photographer creating story-driven programs that promote learning and community engagement. Through cultural sensitivity and narrative craft and a deep care for the Arabic language, her work explores how people, places, and traditions shape one another.

Ana Luisa Castillo

Centered blue square on a white background.

Cultural mediator, art historian, and museology specialist trained in Cuba, Colombia, and Switzerland. With extensive experience in teaching, research, and mediation, she develops projects that connect art, audiences, and social issues.

A woman wearing a beige hijab and a plaid shirt, smiling at the camera, with shelves of books in the background.

Dr. Naseeba Alozaibi

Emirati children’s author based in Abu Dhabi, whose work explores imaginative storytelling for young readers. She has published nine picture books with Dar Ashjar, with several titles winning or being shortlisted for major awards, including the Etisalat Award and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
In 2022, she served as a jury member for the Etisalat Award for Children’s Books.

Valentina Rizzi

Italian author, publisher, bookseller specialised in children’s literature, and theatre therapist with extensive experience in reading mediation and visual storytelling. Founder of the independent publishing house Bibliolibrò, she develops educational and literary projects centred on illustrated books and participatory storytelling. She is the Italian publisher of Seguo il filo, the bilingual Italian-Arabic edition developed in collaboration with the Tamer Institute for Community Education, written by Ala’ Kraman and illustrated by Haya Halaw, reflecting her ongoing commitment to international editorial exchange and children’s visual narratives.

Masarra Touqan

Masarra Touqan is the founder of Kalila Wa Dimna, an award-winning Jordanian children’s publishing house dedicated to high-quality Arabic literature for young readers. A publisher and author, her work focuses on early childhood literacy, cultural storytelling, and the development of meaningful Arabic content for children. She is also a WIn Fellow and actively engaged in strengthening Arabic children’s publishing and literacy ecosystems across the region.

FAQ

  • No. As a non-profit association, we do not charge artists to participate. Our aim is to support creative voices without creating financial barriers.

  • Yes. We select artists who already have some professional experience.
    Eligible applicants are visual artists (illustration, comics, graphic or experimental animation)

  • We offer editorial guidance, narrative development, and help structuring your project into a professional publishing dossier.

  • Illustrated Arab is not a publishing house. However, selected projects may be presented to publishers or considered for our micro-publishing initiative.

  • Yes. Since Illustrated Arab is an editorial development programme, selected artists must have the ability to create or develop a story.

  • No. We do not represent artists in an agent capacity. We offer project-based support and visibility, not contract negotiation or rights management.

  • A small group each cycle, to ensure personalised and meaningful support.

  • Yes. You are eligible if you live in the Arab region, in the diaspora, or if you maintain a strong connection with contemporary Arab narratives.