Artist Funding in India
Arts councils, grants, and funding bodies for artists
Creative Capital
Creative Capital is a major U.S.-based artist grantmaker that funds new work and professional development, primarily for artists with U.S. eligibility. It is listed here because Indian artists based abroad or working in U.S.-eligible contexts may encounter it through international opportunities, but it is not a primary India-facing funder.
Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art
FICA supports Indian artists, curators, historians, and researchers through awards, grants, and residency opportunities. Its programmes are geared toward contemporary practice and professional development, making it useful for artists seeking project support, research time, or mobility.
India Foundation for the Arts
IFA is one of India’s most important independent arts funders for research, documentation, production, and interdisciplinary art practice. It supports artists and cultural workers through project grants with clear budgets and outcomes, and is especially strong for contemporary, research-led, and socially engaged work.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations
ICCR supports cultural exchange, international exposure, and travel-linked opportunities for Indian artists and cultural practitioners. For visual artists, it is especially relevant for overseas participation, residencies, exchange programs, and representation at cultural events.
Lalit Kala Akademi
India’s national academy of fine arts supports visual artists through awards, scholarships, exhibitions, and public-art initiatives. Its support is often project- or recognition-based rather than open-ended general operating support, and it is a central public institution for Indian artists at different career stages.
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
The Ministry funds and steers national cultural programs, including visual-arts initiatives, public art, museums, and schemes implemented through partner institutions. Support is usually routed through specific calls, awards, commissions, or institutional schemes rather than a single open grant program.
National Gallery of Modern Art
NGMA is a leading government museum that supports exhibitions, public programming, and commissioned or collaborative cultural projects. Artists typically engage with NGMA through exhibitions, institutional partnerships, or thematic programs rather than direct open-call artist grants.
Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council
Pro Helvetia supports international artistic exchange and collaboration, including projects involving Indian artists and institutions. It is useful for India-based artists working cross-border, especially in residencies, research, and collaborative production.
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
The Warhol Foundation primarily funds visual-arts organizations and curatorial work, but it is relevant to India-based artists through exhibitions, institutional partners, and international curatorial collaborations. It is not usually a direct individual-artist grantmaker, so artists tend to access its support indirectly via museums, curators, and nonprofits.
The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation
Inlaks is a major private foundation that has historically supported Indian artists through scholarships, grants, and international opportunities, often including study, research, and residencies. It is particularly relevant for artists seeking advanced training, exposure, or support for ambitious work with a strong international dimension.
Artist Residencies in India
30 residencies listed
Farm Studio
Andore Village, India
Farm Studio International Artist Residency in Rajasthan, India, offers artists from all disciplines an opportunity to develop their work in a rural community setting. Founded to foster creative exchange, dialogue, and collaboration between Indian rural artists and international contemporary artists, Farm Studio supports community-based activities and celebrates local cultural identity. The residency provides accommodation, meals, studio spaces, and an exhibition opportunity, encouraging experimentation and intercultural exchange. Artists are responsible for their travel, visa, and personal expenses. The program hosts residencies from October to the end of February each year, accommodating 3-6 artists at a time.
1 Shanthiroad
Bangalore, India
1Shanthiroad Studio/Gallery in Bengaluru, India, founded in 2002 by Suresh Jayaram, is an artist residency and gallery space that nurtures creativity and cutting-edge art practices through programs hosting artists from diverse countries and backgrounds. It offers residencies like the annual NEXT-STEP program for five emerging artists, providing a platform for experimentation, collaboration, and community engagement over four weeks. Administered by the Visual Art Collective (VAC) Trust, it includes studio access, mentorship, workshops, and exhibitions.
Art Castle International
India
Name of Residency: Art Castle International Artist ResidencyArt Castle International Artist Residency is open to artists of all nationalities and ages. Just 3 Km from Government Museum, the residency is ideally located in a peaceful and lush area in the city of Trivandrum. The residency was founded with the purpose of supporting creative endeavors and welcomes visual artists of all media. The artists will each be provided with a bedroom, private studio and a roof top common studio for their work
Art Junction Residency
Udaipur, India
Art Junction Residency is an independent, non-profit artist residency program located in the rural village of Badanga near Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, founded in to foster cultural exchange, creative exploration, and collaboration among emerging and established artists from diverse backgrounds. It offers short to medium-term stays in eco cottages with shared studios, supporting a wide range of disciplines including visual arts, performance, new media, and more, while hosting community workshops, exhibitions, and public talks. The program emphasizes immersion in a peaceful natural environment to encourage experimentation and dialogue with local culture.
Artinn Jaipur Center
India
Name of Residency: ARTINN JAIPUR CENTERAn artist residency where the actual local artists and artisans were.ArtInn Jaipur today provides a platform for both local and international artists to come together to learn, ideate and create works of art.We run personalised workshops at ArtInn Jaipur. Some are run at the residency while others are at the artists village.The traditional arts of Rajasthan are varied and many. Just as the dialect changes every few kilometres, the arts and crafts of the reg
Banaras Cultural Foundation
India
Name of Residency: Kriti Gallery & Artist ResidencyArtists, architects, writers, art historians, directors, actors, publishers, musicians and other creative professionals, from all over the world, regardless of race, gender, age and orientation, with open ideas and opinions, are invited and encouraged to share this garden space in Varanasi / Banaras.Since our inception in 2006, over 200 artists from 26 countries have taken the opportunity to interact with the historic city of Varanasi through th