For creating a platform for shadow puppetry through a festival of performances and workshops across Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The touring festival is expected to help develop support systems for shadow puppeteers by enhancing their visibility and generating an audience for R.V. Ramani’s feature-length documentary film on the subject, Nee Engey.
For creating a comprehensive collection of material on the Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association (IPTA). Through interviews, archival research, and the compilation of material generated on and by IPTA, the researcher will arrive at an account of the first, collective, pan-Indian cultural movement in independent India.
For research towards a manual on bamboo toy-making for middle- and high-school children, to be published in Marathi and English. Another component of the research would be workshops and teacher training programmes for schools in Pune district.
For preparatory work on a video film, by a filmmaker and a journalist/writer, on marginalised aspects of Punjab’s cultural landscape. They will explore their relationship to contemporary Punjab by documenting particular celebrations, individuals, memorials and encounters that together embody a syncretic understanding of the region.
For customised animation workshops for schoolchildren and adults geared towards training future professional animators. The workshops are expected to generate a set of short animation films.
For the photographic documentation of the manuscript paintings of Assam held in Vaishnavite monasteries and private collections. Approximately 5,000 folios will be photographed and stored in a digital database at the Assam State Museum.
For a preparatory phase of collaboration among a painter/puppeteer, a sculptor/puppeteer and a shoe designer/woodworker to develop new styles and techniques of presentation in puppetry. The collaborators will attempt to create contemporary scripts, evolve new soundscapes and re-think traditional structures.
For preparatory work towards the development of a strategic plan to strengthen the governance, work culture, public relations and fundraising capabilities of a theatre group.
For implementing the strategic plan of a theatre group, which had received an earlier grant for preparatory work, to reach new audiences, improve management and public relations, and generate income through performance tours, workshops and training programmes.
For a video film, Kitte Mil Ve Mahi, by a filmmaker and a writer, on marginalised aspects of Punjab’s cultural landscape. This grant, which follows an earlier grant for preparatory work, will go towards the making of a film that will document celebrations, individuals, memorials and encounters that together embody a syncretic understanding of the region.
For the installation of public sculptures created by four ceramic artists at the Kalaghoda Festival, Mumbai. The project will be disseminated through a pamphlet describing the process, a poster exhibition and a slide show.
For a clay and fibre installation by a ceramic artist and a textile artist based on interrelated themes depicted in Indian and Greek myths. The installation will be created for outdoor viewing and will be site-variable.
For the dissemination of the collaborative work of visual artist C F John, dancer/choreographer Tripura Kashyap and photographer/visual artist T M Azis in the form of two art events: a photo-exhibition and a half-hour performance around a well, and an installation/performance in an art gallery.
For the completion of a manuscript and publication of a sourcebook in Kannada on important sculptural traditions in south India. The book is expected to reach sculptors across rural Karnataka through innovative dissemination strategies.
For collaboration among a photographer, a graphic designer and a painter to develop a body of new digital art work that would encompass photography, painting and graphic design. Through their interdisciplinary approach to image creation the artists hope to address critical debates around representation and the digital media.
