Space118 Art Foundation Fine Arts Grant 2021:
Space118 Art Foundation invited artists from across India to apply for its Production Grant, an initiative designed to support the realisation of both ongoing and newly conceived projects. The grant aimed to provide not just financial assistance, but also meaningful guidance and visibility at a crucial stage in an artist’s practice.
Selected artists received financial support ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 1,00,000, enabling them to develop and produce their work with greater independence and focus. Beyond funding, the grant emphasised dialogue and mentorship. Each recipient was paired with a senior or mid-career artist, as determined by the jury, for two online mentorship sessions along with a review session. These interactions created space for critical feedback, exchange of ideas, and sustained engagement with the artistic process.
The programme culminated in a Virtual Open Studio Day, where grantees presented their work to a wider audience through Space118’s digital platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. This online showcase extended the life of the projects beyond the studio, inviting public interaction and visibility in a digital format.
The selection process and budget proposals were carefully reviewed and refined in consultation with the jury and Space118 prior to the commencement of the grant. The jury for the 2021–22 cycle included Lekha Poddar, Mortimer Chatterjee, and Shilpa Gupta, each bringing their distinct perspectives to the selection process.
Mentorship for the year was led by an accomplished group of practitioners, including Jitish Kallat, Anurupa Roy, Rohit Saha, Suresh BV, Sree Banerjee Goswami, Atul Bhalla, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, and Bharat Sikka. Their involvement enriched the programme, offering diverse insights and approaches that supported artists in shaping their work.
