Kirloskar Art Grant 2025

Details

S. L. Kirloskar CSR Foundation is proud to announce the Kirloskar Art Grant, a reflection of the Kirloskar Group’s enduring commitment to art and culture as powerful catalysts for societal transformation.

This annual grant supports lens-based practitioners who push the boundaries of visual storytelling—artists whose work interrogates contemporary relationships between people, environments, and systems in a rapidly evolving world shaped by globalization, digital immersion, and cultural change.

S. L. Kirloskar CSR Foundation is committed to environmental sustainability by fostering positive behavioural change within communities through initiatives focused on nature conservation, sustainable food systems, and societal health. Alongside this, the Foundation promotes education by equipping underprivileged youth with employable skills, guided by the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Furthering its commitment to holistic development, it is also expanding into the promotion of art and culture, with a focus on supporting and nurturing emerging artists.

Grant Vision
Kirloskar Art Grant champions projects that extend beyond traditional aesthetics—those that explore the critical and imaginative potential of photography and moving images. It supports work that not only represents, but also reimagines, provokes, and challenges dominant narratives, fostering rich visual discourse.

Focus Areas
We invite proposals that critically engage with one or more of the following themes:
Sustainability and Environment
Science and Innovation
Biodiversity and Nature
Culture and Heritage
Community and Social Change

Grant Overview
One recipient will be selected through an open call by a distinguished jury for Kirloskar Art Grant, awarding them INR 5 lakh for their proposed project.

The grant includes:
A production grant of INR 5 lakh to support the creation of new work
An artist fee/honorarium (up to 35% of the production grant)
Opportunities to exhibit the completed project at Kirloskar Group premises and other prominent venues across India

Who Can Apply?
We welcome applications from emerging lens-based artists, particularly photographers working in documentary, conceptual, experimental, or new media formats. We are especially interested in practitioners whose work engages critically with social, environmental, and cultural concerns.
This grant is designed to support projects that provoke reflection and contribute meaningfully to contemporary visual culture.

Eligibility Criteria
Open to photographers and lens-based artists residing in India
Applicants must hold Indian citizenship
Open to individuals or artist duos/collectives
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project within the grant period

Key Dates
Open Call: July 31 – August 31, 2025
Application Deadline: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Project Start Date: October 01, 2025
Project Completion Deadline: February 28, 2026