Job Opening at IFA | Programme Officer: Arts Education | Deadline: January 05, 2026

Are you passionate about exploring and sharing new approaches to learning in the classroom?
Have you thought about how the arts could inspire alternative perspectives in making learning and teaching joyful?

IFA invites applications for the position of Programme Officer: Arts Education. This role will report to the Executive Director (ED).

IFA is an independent, nationwide, not-for-profit, organisation that makes grants and implements projects across practice, research and education in the arts and culture in India. Set up as a Public Charitable Trust in 1993, IFA started making grants and implementing projects in 1995. Since then, we have supported and implemented over 900 projects disbursing over Rs 41 crore across the country. 

About the Programme:

The Arts Education Programme or Kali Kalisu (‘Teach and Learn’ in Kannada) is one of IFA’s flagship programmes, with the conviction that it is only through the arts that students and youngsters inculcate a quest for lifelong learning. In its essence, the programme sees arts education as an integral part of the development of students, where they explore the joy of learning within and beyond their curriculum. The programme:

  • supports arts-based training for teachers from government schools in Karnataka 
  • facilitates artists and teachers to develop arts projects within their school contexts using artistic and cultural practices from their own environments. 
  • facilitates projects with Government-aided and Non-profit schools across India to create a solid foundation for arts-integrated teaching pedagogies and encourage curiosity and creativity among students.
  • maintains a continuous dialogue with the Department of Public Instructions to intensify its teacher capacity building programme in Karnataka. 
  • hopes that the school becomes a place for learning and sharing for students, teachers, administration and the larger community.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Join a two-member team in managing IFA’s Arts Education programme through
    • project implementation
    • capacity building
    • teacher training
    • outreach
    • facilitating translations, wherever required
  • Build, implement and review annual plans for the Arts Education programme in consultation with the ED.
  • Manage and track programmatic budgets and spending with the other colleagues in the programme.
  • Develop strategies to strengthen IFA’s intervention in arts education.
  • Maintain and enhance relationships with government departments of different states of India and take on full responsibility to further the collaborations including SSA, DIET, DSERT and NCERT.
  • Facilitate seminars and conferences that bring together various stakeholders in arts education.
  • Engage extensively with the field by spending over 60% of working hours in the field (in particular all districts of Karnataka)
  • Support artists, teachers, and schools in developing their projects.
  • Evaluate proposals for projects internally as well as work with external evaluators. 
  • Provide intellectual, creative and logistical support to selected projects and review them at regular intervals.
  • Implement projects and review them in a timely manner.
  • Write programme and project related plans, notes, reports and updates as required.
  • Ensure timely submission of deliverables and reports by Project Coordinators in compliance with institutional standards.
  • Explore collaborations with partner organisations and organise outreach activities of projects implemented by IFA across the country.
  • Work closely with other departments at IFA to ensure smooth functioning of institutional processes.
  • Shoulder other programmatic and institutional responsibilities when required.
  • Share responsibility with other programme staff to develop implementation policies and strategies, reviewing proposals, and monitoring and evaluating projects.

Job Requirements:

  • Post-graduate degree in arts/ humanities from a recognised university 
  • Proficiency in Kannada is mandatory for this role.
  • Eight or more years of experience in research and/or teaching, or managing programmes in the arts or humanities in India, with an interest in education and the arts.
  • Conversant with current issues and debates, particularly in the areas of arts education and ability to engage with a wide variety of methodologies and approaches to the arts in India.
  • Should demonstrate ideational ability, potential for leadership, a good sense of strategy, financial management skills, and be able to network and represent the organisation in different forums.
  • Excellent writing and public communication abilities in English and Kannada.
  • Ability to critically analyse and evaluate developments in the field and in their programme.
  • Fair knowledge of teaching and diverse arts‑integrated approach to subject curricula.
  • Understand varying learning capacities of students across age groups and grade levels with fair competence.
  • Knowledge of other languages will be considered an additional qualification.
  • Demonstrate strong teamwork and collaboration across various programmes at IFA.
  • Should have empathy, criticality, patience, determination, and a sense of curiosity in the arts.

Location: Bangalore. This position entails considerable travel within Karnataka and across India.

Remuneration: Rs 8 to 9 lakh depending on experience and skills. The successful candidate will be appointed for five years on a contractual basis.

Application Guidelines:

Applications should include:

  • Cover letter, clearly stating interest in the role and explaining why you would be a good fit.
  • Résumé, detailing previous experience.
  • Two writing samples 

Any application received without the above attachments will not be considered.

Send your applications by email to contactus@indiaifa.org with the subject line: Application for Programme Officer: Arts Education

Key Dates:

Deadline to submit applications: January 05, 2026

Interview with shortlisted candidates: January - February 2026
Shortlisted candidates will first be interviewed telephonically/ virtually and then in person in Bangalore. Educational and professional references, one from each sector, will be sought when the candidate is shortlisted. 

Expected date of joining: On or before March 01, 2026