International Artists & Writers Residency Programme
The Programme is a retreat offered to artists and scholars
where they can reflect, interact, and create. The artists-in-residence
programme is one of the activities that Sanskriti offers to artists who are
especially interested in exploring traditional crafts from India and
collaborating with local Indian artists and artisans to extend their
practice. Over the past three decades Sanskriti has offered residencies to
over 500 artists, poets, scholars, and writers and to some 300 crafts
persons and cultural activists from the across the world as well as India.
Sanskriti's Residency Programme also works in collaboration with
international organizations like UNESCO, Asia-Link, and the Fulbright
Fellowships Program.
The residency programme has helped to significantly foster understanding
between different cultures through the sharing of ideas and life
experiences. Not only are the artists able to put their work in the context
of a rich cultural heritage, they can draw inspiration from both the
contemporary as well as traditional creative processes.
Sanskriti’s network and status of a premier cultural foundation allows us to
proactively facilitate such interactions.
The artist residency programme is facilitated at the Sanskriti Kendra, which
is located on the outskirts of New Delhi. Sanskriti can offer the following
exclusive facilities to artists in residence.
Sanskriti Museums: There are three museums located within
the Sanskriti cultural complex. These are the Museum of Indian Terracotta,
Museum of Everyday Art and the Museum of Indian Textiles. These enhance the
artistic and cultural sensibilities of the residents.
Collaborative work with traditional craftsperson: Sanskriti maintains networks regular linkages with traditional crafts
persons and crafts workshops all over India. Artists in residence could
benefit from exploring these workshops and practices in pursuing their own
contemporary work.
Site-specific installations: Sanskriti Kendra provides
open air space in its ground for site-specific works of art or
installations. Any ideas should be discussed well in advance of the
application for the residency.
Materials: Sanskriti has developed a resource for various
traditional materials both in terms of their identification and their
procurement. Such materials would include mineral pigments, natural dyes,
variety of cloth material, gold and silver leaves, shellac, handmade paper,
and different kinds of clay, wooden blocks.
Participation in Open Houses and other forums: The artists
can present their work in public forums, interact in seminars, conduct
workshops with underprivileged children. They can also share their own
practice and techniques with students at local art schools.
