Curatorial Research Grant 2025–2026
Deadline: August 31, 2025
Travel Dates: February 2026
Announcement of Grantee: Early October 2025
Virtual Interviews: September 2025
Eligibility: Curators based and professionally active outside India; minimum 8 years of curatorial experience; at least one institutional exhibition; strong track record of research, writing, or programming
This grant is a new initiative that invites one curator annually for a fully funded research visit to India. Conceived by Saat Saath Arts Foundation (SSA), in partnership with India Art Fair (IAF), the grant is designed for curators who are at a pivotal moment in their practice, where critical exposure to new contexts, access to diverse artists and institutions, and time for immersive fieldwork can help seed future collaborations, exhibitions, or texts.
It is a research-driven curatorial engagement, carefully structured to deepen transnational dialogue and long-term connectivity between Indian and international contemporary art ecosystems.
What the Grant Provides
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Roundtrip airfare
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Domestic travel and ground transport within India
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Accommodation during the research period
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A curated itinerary of artist studio visits, institutional meetings, and access to India Art Fair, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and other key exhibitions
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Opportunities for both public and closed-door conversations with peers
The program culminates in a public online presentation and requires the development of a longer-term curatorial project, whether an exhibition, publication, or public art project.
Applicants from all backgrounds are welcomes and encouraged also those working with underrepresented regions, artists, and methodologies to apply.
History
Originally launched in 2015 as the Saat Saath Arts Curatorial Research Grant, the program has supported leading international curators in developing long-term engagement with India’s contemporary art landscape for over 10 years. Past awardees include Catherine David, Lauren Cornell, Rachel Kent, Dieter Roelstraete, Helen Pheby, Laura Raicovich, Diana Freundl, and most recently Nora Lawrence.
