Grant to preserve India’s Rapidly Vanishing Art and Craft Forms, Folk Traditions, and Festivals

Over the decades, many of these practices have been steadily dwindling, and today, several stand on the brink of disappearance. The growing insularity across the subcontinent has further marginalized traditional practices belonging to diverse faiths and communities, while rapid urbanization in rural India is accelerating the erosion of agnostic folk traditions. Rituals and cultural expressions that were once integral to daily life are now fading into memory.

This grant aims to support efforts in documenting these endangered traditions, contributing to the development of a digital archive that safeguards them for future generations. In this edition, two selected grantees will receive a grant of up to INR 3 lakhs each to produce a documentary film, capturing the richness of these art forms and the stories of the communities that sustain them.

Funding Information

• The winning grantees will be awarded a sum of up to INR 3 lakhs each which can be used for the production of the film (filming; editing; sound; light; translations; equipment rentals); travel for research; documentation/artist fee etc.
• Project Duration: 12 Months

Expected Outcomes

• A documentary film.
• Audio in English with subtitles in the local language OR audio in the local language with subtitles in English.
• Serendipity Arts will facilitate the screening of the film upon its completion.
• The screening will be accompanied by a discussion between the filmmaker(s) and the local audience.
• Possibility of the subject of the documentary film being showcased at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2026. The decision as to whether or not a project will be showcased at the Festival will be taken by Serendipity Arts at a later stage and is presently not an assured commitment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 years and above
• Applicants can be individuals or collectives but the agreement will be signed with a single applicant or a representative.
• Applicant must be an Indian national residing in India. In the case of a collaboration, at least one of the collaborators should be an Indian national residing in India.
• Applicant must hold an Indian bank account.
• Projects that have been previously presented as a research paper, symposium, or photo exhibition are eligible for submission.
• The applicant should not have received any funding previously for the same project. If the proposed project has received funding in the past.
• The proposed film should focus on a single subject rather than a generic overview of the declining arts.
• A background in filmmaking is mandatory.
• A background or prior experience in research/anthropology/cultural criticism is preferred but not mandatory.

For more information, visit Serendipity Arts Foundation.