New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The Serendipity Arles Grant, the largest ever photography, video and new media grant in South Asia, is inviting applications for its second edition till March 15th.
The new edition, announced by Serendipity Arts Foundation and Les Rencontres d’Arles, like the debut edition will award the grant in two stages -- five artists would receive a grant of 70,000 rupees (approximately 800 euros) in the first stage and the winner will get Rs 12 lakh (approximately 15,000 euros) in the final stage.
Supported by the French Institute of India, it aims at empowering artists from South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and further a spirit of regional cooperation and representation.
"The first edition of the grant showed us the possibilities emerging from this association and the second edition will shows our commitment to back and support artists from the region and help promote their work on a global scale," Sunil Kant Munjal, founder and patron of Serendipity Arts, said in a statement.
A jury comprising artists, authors, Foundation directors, and eminent personalities from diverse artistic domains will review the proposals and shortlist a total of five artists.
The first stage will recognise and support five artists with a grant of Rs 70,000. Beside receiving a part of the grant, these five shortlisted candidates will also be given the opportunity to showcase their work at the upcoming edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival, scheduled to take place later in the year in Goa.
Finally, at the 2023 festival, the same jury will unanimously declare the finalist, from amongst the previously shortlisted artists, who would then receive a grant of Rs 12 lakh to develop the project and show the final presentation at Rencontres d'Arles, France, in 2024.
"SAF has become over the years a key player of Indo-French cultural exchanges, not only for presenting upcoming and established French artists in India, but also for supporting young Indian artists by giving them international visibility through the collaboration with landmark institutions such as Les Rencontres d’Arles," said Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, counselor for education, science and culture at Embassy of France in India.
A webinar will also be organized on February 20 to clarify doubts regarding the application process. PTI MG MAH MAH