[Reader-list] Archival Fellowships: Call for Applications

[rohitrellan at aol.in]

India Foundation for the Arts  announces up to four fellowships of Rs. 1,50,000/- each for a duration of  one year, to be awarded to artists and curators keen to enrich their  practice through engaging in archival research and employing materials from the  archive for the creation of artworks or exhibitions.
These fellowships are a response to  the urgent need to activate public institutional archives in India, while  simultaneously addressing the research impulse inherent in artistic and  curatorial projects. IFA aims to see archives functioning less as mere  repositories, and more as sites actively influencing discourse and creativity  in the arts. Through creative interventions by artists and curators keen to  challenge and enrich their own arts practice, it is hoped that public  institutional archives will be encouraged to recognise their role as active  participants in the arts. This endeavour is also in keeping with IFA’s  objective of nurturing an environment for critical and reflective arts  practice.

 Application 
Proposals are solicited from artists  and curators who have conceptualised a project (either an artistic or  curatorial pursuit) that requires significant research and access to materials  within public institutional archives.
To apply, please send us a proposal  describing:
a) Your existing practice and your  concerns and interests as an artist or curator.
 b) Your project idea and how your engagement with the archive/s is central to  the project.
 c) The archive(s) you wish to work  with and the nature of their holding—audio, video, film, photographs, objects,  documents and manuscripts.
 d) The proposed outcome of your  project and how you imagine this outcome will be placed in the public domain.
 e) Work plan for the duration of the  fellowship.
Applicants may send draft proposals for feedback until May 15th 2012 by email to  anujaghosalkar at indiaifa.org/  rashmisawhney at indiaifa.org.
Final applications should reach the IFA address below no  later than May 31st 2012.
Please ensure that applications be  made only in hard copy. Online applications will not be accepted.  Fellowship awards will be announced by July 31st 2012. IFA’s  decision on the fellowships will be final.
At the end of the fellowship period IFA  will organise a public presentation at which the fellows will be expected to  share their archival research process and explain how this experience has  enriched their project.
The application will be considered  incomplete if you do not include the following:
A covering letter addressed to the  Executive Director.
An official letter of permission from  the archive(s) you wish to work with offering their consent to your project  requirements. Please include the contacts details of the concerned officials.
Supporting material related to your  practice.
A recent bio-data includingyour address,  telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail address.

 General Information
Each fellowship will cover an  honorarium, travel and archival fees. Fellows have the option of using part of  the fellowship amount for the production of the proposed outcome with prior  permission from IFA.
Please state your identity in the  covering letter and bio data only, and do not make your name evident on the  proposal.
 Your proposal may be assessed with the  help of external evaluators.
If your proposal is short-listed, you  may be requested to respond to questions from evaluators.
You are responsible for the delivery of  your proposal and supporting material to IFA by the closing date. Late  applications will not be accepted.
Proposals may be written in any Indian  language including English.
For any queries/clarifications  regarding your proposal you may contact Anuja Ghosalkar at  anujaghosalkar at indiaifa.org.

 Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you are  an Indian national, or have been resident in India for at least five years.
Please address your application to:
The Archival Fellowships,
 India Foundation for the Arts,
 ‘Apurva’, Ground floor, No 259,
 4th Cross, Raj Mahal Vilas,  2nd Stage, 2nd Block,
 Bengaluru 560094.
 Tel: 080 23414681/82
 Website: www.indiaifa.org