While the Indian art industry continues to expand, with hundreds of artists and scores of galleries making their debut every year, some organisations are also facilitating an important behind-the-scene action. By providing scholarships and giving grants to emerging artists, the intent is to develop a holistic art market with not just commerce, but also inspiration to stoke a budding talent. Here are two art fellowships one can apply for this year:
Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan’s ARThinkSouthAsia Cultural Management Programme 2012-13
Deadline: November 15, 2011
Fellowship –ARThinkSouthAsia, a fully funded annual Fellowship in Arts Management and Cultural Policy addressed at today’s cultural practitioners. The fellowship is designed to help develop skills, knowledge, networks and experience of potential leaders in the cultural sector of South Asia which include museums, the visual and performing arts and digital media.
15 fellows will be selected from across South Asia for the fellowship which includes a two week residential course in early April 2012 led by experienced international and Indian tutors, a secondment / internship in Germany over the fellowship year 2012-13, and a concluding seminar in March the following year.
Who can apply- ATSA welcomes applications from practitioners working across a wide range of creative and artistic activities, and also from those who are working outside it but demonstrate a knowledge, understanding and passion for the arts. Artists and persons with unconventional careers and experiences are also invited to apply.
Eligibility: A graduate degree from a recognized university or equivalent professional qualifications and experience of at least three years, either in employment or freelance. Age no bar.
How to apply: Those interested can log on www.arthinksouthasia.org to download the application form. Duly filled applications along with supporting documents would be accepted through email/registered post/courier at the address given in the website.
Bajaj Capital Art House Art Positive Fellowship, 2012-13
Deadline: December 10, 2011
Fellowship: Art Positive, a unit of Bajaj Capital Art House (BCAH), offers a one year fellowship aimed at mid career art practitioners to celebrate and support their creative growth. The fellowship, which was initiated in 2009, is open to artists working in any visual art medium. It presents a unique opportunity to the selected BCAH Fellow artist to think afresh and work for a year on a new project or body of work of his/her choice that will then be featured in a solo exhibition with an accompanying catalogue sponsored by Bajaj Capital Art House and held in their gallery Art Positive at Lado Sarai, New Delhi.
Who can apply: Mid-career Indian nationals residing in any part of the country and practicing as visual artists in the age group 25 – 40 years, who have had at least 4 solo or group shows to their credit, are eligible to apply.
Eligibility: Artists working in any creative visual art discipline including, but not limited to painting, drawing, illustration, studio ceramics, sculpture, photography, digital arts, landscape art, fiber and textile arts, installation art, public art and conceptual art etc may apply.
Cash Grant: The selected artist will be awarded a fellowship of Rs One Lakh (Rs 100,000) as a lump sum grant payable in two or three installments as mutually agreed, to help facilitate the work. The grant could be used for research, travel, material or acquiring facilities as outlined in the project proposal and agreed with the selection board.
How to apply: The application form can be downloaded from BCAH website at www.bcah.in or collected from the Gallery office at Art Positive- a unit of BCAH, F-213/B, Old MB Road, Lado Sarai, New Delhi- 110030. The completed application form with listed supporting documents and work images should be submitted to the BCAH at the address provided, latest by the first week of December, 2010.