RFPs: Archives and Museums Programme – India

The programme has a twofold objective: to provide arts practitioners and researchers with an opportunity to generate new, critical and creative approaches for public engagement with archives and museum collections; and to energise these spaces as platforms for dialogue and discourse.

About the Scope of IFA-ZMAC Scholarly and Creative Projects

• For this collaboration, they invite applications to work with three collections at ZMAC.
  • Scholarly Projects on the Artistic Legacy of Pune: This collection holds materials from Pune’s artistic heritage, which spans a wide spectrum of creative disciplines: painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and specialised forms such as Ganpati decorations. Each artistic stream has its own luminaries, whose legacy continues to shape the work of contemporary artists in the city and have played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for the art scene in Pune. To celebrate this rich artistic heritage of the city, the museum seeks to put together an exhibition based on their collection.
  • For the Scholarly projects on the Artistic Legacy of Pune they encourage proposals that:
    • research and critically engage with this collection and beyond, to produce research based material for the exhibition.
    • demonstrate ability to document and collect materials through fieldwork towards the exhibition.
    • support the knowledge bank of the institution by generating tangible outcomes like audio/visual interviews with artists, monographs, essays, long-form articles, descriptive catalogue etc.
    • present their research through public programmes both online and offline.
  • Creative Projects on the Silver Collection: This collection comprises different styles of silver ornaments and objects from parts of Maharashtra, Kutch, Jaipur, Kutuk and Karimnagar, demonstrating a variety of styles such as filigree, embossing, carving and many others. From commonly found jewellery worn by people, to ritualistic objects like gulaabdani (rose water sprinklers), jewellery boxes, betel nut and lime containers, the silver collection represents the influences of different cultures within the sub-continent and beyond. The Creative project with this collection can delve deeper into the study of material culture and design history.
  • For the Creative projects based on the silver collection they seek proposals which:
    • demonstrate curatorial and artistic intervention to reimagine this collection.
    • have developed ideas and a work plan towards research on material culture and design history and generate possible outcomes through photo essays, illustrated catalogues, audio-visual documentation of the process of various styles and techniques of production etc.
    • have an outline to create programmes for greater public outreach and engagements through workshops, curatorial walk-throughs, craft demonstrations etc.
  • Creative Projects on the Textile Collection: With over 2000 varied textiles, the museum’s collection serves as a potential resource for scholars of textile and design history and other enthusiasts. The collection encompasses a variety of weaving and embroidery traditions of the country – from Banarasi sarees, silk and cotton Maheshwari sarees, double ikkat silk from Gujarat, Paithani sarees from Maharashtra, and richly embroidered Parsi gara sarees and even a variety of pagdis (turbans) and fetas, stitched clothes such as Kunchi, Topad, and Dupat and painted textiles like pichwais which depict the story of Krishna. The Creative project with this collection can explore the history of weaving traditions and study how motifs have originated and transformed through different mediums.
  • For the Creative projects based on the textile collection they seek proposals which:
    • demonstrate innovative curatorial and artistic intervention to reimagine this collection.
    • have developed ideas and a work plan towards research on traditions of weaving, cultural and regional influences and generate possible outcomes through photo essays, illustrated catalogues, audio-visual documentation of the process of various styles and techniques of weaving etc.
    • have an outline for creating programmes for greater public outreach and engagements through workshops, curatorial walk-throughs etc.
    • They encourage projects that think through interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches and methodologies for their outcomes.

Funding Information

• The project cost should not exceed Rs 2,00,000/-
• You can request for an honorarium not exceeding 35% of the proposed budget for the entire duration of the project. The total amount is inclusive of the honorarium.
• Funds will cover only project-related costs and activities, and will not pay for infrastructure costs or equipment purchase.

Eligibility Criteria

• India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) implements projects under its various programmes. The criteria for eligibility to apply under these programmes are as follows:
  • Only Indian nationals can apply. This does not include PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card Holders.
  • Applicants must have PAN card and one of the following for proof of identity and citizenship – Indian Passport or Aadhar Card or Voter’s ID in India.
  • Only individuals can apply. Organisations of any kind cannot apply (except for non-profit schools, who can only apply under the Arts-Integrated Projects in Schools category of the Arts Education programme).
  • If there are collaborators in the projects, they must also be Indian nationals.
  • Persons who have a past history of financial delinquency with IFA are not eligible.
  • Persons who have failed to deposit at IFA agreed deliverables from an earlier IFA grant are not eligible.
  • Persons who have previously received a letter from IFA disallowing them from applying in the future for any reason are not eligible.
  • Persons currently working on a project implemented by IFA are not eligible to apply.
  • More than one individual can apply if they have a joint account. If they do not, then only one among them should apply with the others as collaborators.
• Applicant Profile:
  • They seek applications from curators, artists, researchers, writers, performers as well other creative practitioners, and scholars with background in research and keen interest in working with archival and museum collections.
  • Applicants with knowledge of Marathi are encouraged to apply.
  • Since ZMAC is based out of Pune, applications from the region are encouraged, since the Project Coordinators will have to spend a considerable amount of time at the museum during the project period.

For more information, visit India Foundation for the Arts.