For the making of a non-fiction film based on the Bengali text Hutom Pyanchar Naksa. The film seeks to use the text––which documents the excesses, decadence and cultural richness of the nineteenth century Bengali bhadralok––as an entry point to explore the silences in the narratives of colonialism and modernity. Envisaged as a dialogue between past and present, the film will involve extensive documentation and interpretation of public life in contemporary Kolkata and of various subaltern art forms like khisti, kheud, charak and sang, revisiting places and practices mentioned in the text.
For the production of the Seagull Theatre Quarterly (STQ) and the creation of marketing and fundraising capabilities that would enable the journal to become self-supporting over time.
This Grant was amicably cancelled based on reasons mutually agreed upon by the Grantee and IFA due to unavoidable circumstances.
For the further development of a new performance form called Versedance. Three short pieces of dance-theatre, based on poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, Amrita Preetam Singh and Jibonananda Das, will be created and performed in Kolkata. The pedagogical possibilities Versedance will also be explored with students at two universities in the city.
For a series of workshops by an architect for middle-school children in three schools in Kolkata towards creating awareness about built heritage, especially in relation to the history and culture of the city. Educational packages will be developed to aid the workshops and site visits.
For researching and documenting the repertoire of biraha (songs of separation) in the folk music of Bengal, towards a musical travelogue in Bengali and English. The project, to be carried out by a contemporary songwriter and performer, will yield an archive of songs and interviews.
For continued collaboration among a painter/puppeteer, a sculptor/puppeteer and a shoe designer/woodworker towards developing full-fledged productions in puppet theatre. The grant will also give shape to the new techniques and styles of presentation that have evolved out of the exploratory phase.
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 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 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.
For the publication of a national theatre quarterly that gives priority to the voice of theatre practitioners, documenting their creative processes, theatre practices and oral histories.
