Request for Proposals: Productions | Deadline: June 05, 2026

India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) invites applications for
Productions
Under its Arts Practice programme

Application Deadline: June 05, 2026

The Arts Practice programme seeks to implement projects where artists expand their present range of practices in new directions. These could question accepted conventions, push new frontiers in content, form and medium, explore new modes of engagement with space, audience and communities, foregrounding a spirit of experimentation.

Artists might arrive at a point in their own artistic journeys when they want to revisit/reimagine their practice by challenging received frameworks and/or by exploring fresh possibilities of creating as well as presenting artistic work. Such a quest could manifest as productions that embody a spirit of enquiry and experimentation.

Under the Arts Practice programme, we invite proposals for Productions that emerge from such a quest for creative explorations. The proposals may encompass various forms such as performance, sound, visual arts, digital creations, literature, or interdisciplinary work that combine these elements. We encourage Production proposals that extend beyond documentary or fictional film production, and welcome proposals for theatre, dance, and music performances, installations, exhibitions, publications like books or zines, moving image presentations, games, digital artworks, and any other innovative forms yet to be conceived.

Duration of the project: Up to 18 months

Budget: 

  • Up to a maximum of Rs 5,00,000/-
  • 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.

Who can apply?

The programme invites proposals from practitioners working within as well as across all disciplines. These could include:

  • Performing artists working in music, sound, text, dance, movement, theatre, puppetry, storytelling, magic, circus and other performance arts
  • Visual artists working across all forms including film (documentary and fiction), animation, photography, installation, new media, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, interactive arts, gaming, painting, sculpture, printmaking, comic book, graphic narrative, artist book and other visual arts
  • Curators, especially those working outside of the gallery context
  • Poets, novelists, playwrights working with literary arts
  • Practitioners engaged in interdisciplinary work

Submission Guidelines:

You can write your proposal in any Indian language, including English. IFA encourages projects in Indian languages other than English.

Send us your CV (with address, phone number and email ID) and a proposal describing: 

  • Your existing arts practice, concerns and interests as a practitioner
  • Details of the Production you want to create and the reason why
  • How is this Production adding to your current practice, or is this a departure from your practice into a new direction?
  • Detailed timeline and budget
  • Examples of earlier work
  • Your final proposal, along with all supporting materials, should be submitted online in a single email not exceeding 25 MB to mridupankhi@indiaifa.org

Eligibility:

  • 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 a 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.
  • 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.

Please note that incomplete proposals and those where applicants do not fall within the eligibility criteria will be disregarded.

Selection Process:

The shortlisted proposals will be evaluated by an external panel and applicants will be required to present their project ideas to the panel. 

All selected projects will be implemented by IFA.

Key Dates:

  • Deadline for Discussion of Project Ideas/Queries: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline for Final Proposal: June 05, 2026
  • Announcement of Selected Projects: November 2026

Please note that IFA is committed to creating a safe environment that supports, respects, and protects everyone, including children. The applicant must be aligned with this and must uphold it at all times.

The Productions category under the Arts Practice programme is supported by Tata Trusts.