Request for Proposals Open Now: Arts Practice

The Arts Practice programme supports critical practice in the arts. It encourages practitioners working across artistic disciplines to question existing notions through their practice. The programme seeks to establish a culture where arts practice is constantly being shaped and articulated through experimentation, critique and dialogue.

Proposals are invited from practitioners, for projects that could:

  • Challenge prevalent idioms and conventions of practice
  • Counter market norms and standardisations
  • Push new frontiers in terms of content, form and medium
  • Explore new modes of engagement with audiences

The programme is also open to multiple readings of the 'critical' and encourages practitioners to articulate this in their own context.

Proposals will be accepted under the following grant categories:

  • Grants for arts projects that lead to a performative, aural, visual or literary work. Grant funds would be available up to a maximum of Rs 5,00,000. In case these projects need to be preceded by a separate period of research or exploratory work, grants up to a maximum of Rs 2,00,000 can be applied for
  • Grants to conceptualise and organise public platforms like conferences and seminars that facilitate critical dialogue, debate, sharing and discussion among diverse stakeholders of arts practice. Grant funds will be available up to a maximum of Rs 6,00,000
  • Grants for innovatively modelled artist residencies and workshops that nurture artists, encourage collaboration and facilitate experimentation. Grant funds will be available up to a maximum of Rs 6,00,000

Grants may be available for dissemination of work created with IFA support. These dissemination projects can be developed through interactions with the programme officer. Grant amount will be decided on a case by case basis.

Who can apply?
The programme invites proposals both from practitioners working within as well as across disciplines.

You could be:

  • Performing and performance artists working in the areas of music, sound, text, dance, movement, theatre, puppetry, storytelling, magic, circus and other forms
  • Visual artists working across all forms including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, film, graphic art and new media
  • Curators, especially those working outside of the gallery context
  • Poets, novelists, playwrights working with literary arts
  • Practitioners engaged in interdisciplinary work

How to apply?
Proposals can be sent at any time of the year. You are welcome to discuss your ideas and develop your proposal through interaction with IFA staff.

To apply, please send us a short note describing

  • Your existing arts practice, concerns and interests as a practitioner
  • The nature of the project and why you wish to work on it
  • How the project addresses the programme

Draft proposals in audio/video format are welcome too. Applicants can also visit the IFA office to share their project ideas with the team. For this, please arrange a meeting with the programme officer in advance.

Proposals can be sent in any Indian language including English. IFA specifically encourages projects in Indian languages other than English, so as to contribute to discourse in particular language contexts.

Please ensure that you approach us at least three months prior to your need for funds. You can expect a response to the draft proposal within two weeks of receiving the proposal.

Click here to read the call in other Indian languages.

Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you are an Indian national, a registered non-profit Indian organisation, or have been residing in India for the last five years. Your collaborators, if any, should also fall into one of the aforesaid categories.
(For more on our eligibility criteria, please click here)

Please write to Sumana Chandrashekar at sumana@indiaifa.org or John Xaviers at john@indiaifa.org for any questions or enquiries.

You can also write to:
Programme Officer, Arts Practice
India Foundation for the Arts,
'Apurva' Ground Floor, No 259, 4th Cross,
Raj Mahal Vilas 2nd Stage, 2nd Block,
Bangalore-560 094
Phone: 080-2341 4681 / 82