Inception Grant Application 2025
INCEPTION GRANT FOR ARTISTS
The Inception Grant was established in 2020, soon after the first lockdown, with the primary goal of supporting and mentoring emerging talent in the visual arts. Interdisciplinary in nature, the grant has two subsidiaries – Inception Grant for Artists and Inception Grant for Art Writers.
This year, we have 6 grants in total, 4 grants for artists and 2 grants for writers, 3 collaborations, and a year-long mentorship program. A total commitment of INR 7,00,000. Our internal jury will shortlist the artists that will be presented at the Inception Grant Finalist Show 2025.
The Grant is open to contemporary artists between the ages of 21-35 years from South Asia. It is more than just financial aid to artists – awardees have access to our mentors and curators who assist them in developing their art practice throughout the year.
Please contact grant@artincept.com for any inquiry.
If you’re an Art Writer, you can apply for our Art Writers Grant here – Apply now
Criteria
- Eligibility: Artists from South Asia aged 21-35 years (as of November 2024) from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
- Genre: Practice must fit the contemporary genre. Format and media are not constrained.
- Exclusions: Illustrations, graphic design, decorative art, AI-generated art, video, and animation are not within the mandate.
- Career Stage: Applicants must be at an early stage of their career, a student, or an emerging artist launching their career.
- Representation: Artists represented by any gallery are not eligible.
- Application: Applicants must be individuals (or part of a collective) applying on their own behalf.
- Deadline: 04 September 2024
For inquiries, please contact grant@artincept.com.
Selection Process
- Shortlisting: The internal jury will shortlist 18-20 applicants based on the provided information and portfolio.
- Review: If shortlisted, applicants will need to send selected physical works for review.
- Final Selection: The external jury will evaluate and select 4 artists for the grant, including the Tacita Dean Award.
- Awards: Grant winners will receive a cash prize and have access to our mentors for 12 months.
- Jury Discretion: The selection process is at the jury’s discretion.
TACITA DEAN AWARD 2025
The Tacita Dean Award will be part of the Inception Grant 2025. Tacita Dean will review the shortlisted finalists to select an artist for the award, which includes a cash grant.
Dean, a leading global artist known primarily for her film work, has been a Turner prize nominee and has won the Hugo Boss and Kurt Schwitters Prize. She is renowned for her 16mm and 35mm films that experiment with narrative and analogue film mediums, as well as her work in drawings, photography, and various installation forms, addressing the culture of obsolescence.
COLLABORATIONS
Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection
Art Incept is delighted to partner with the Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection for the Inception Grant 2025. This collaboration extends the grant’s reach, providing more artists with monetary support and a mentorship program with the team at Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection.
Triveni Kala Sangam
Continuing our partnership with Triveni Kala Sangam for the Inception Grant 2025 allows us to offer two grant finalists an opportunity to showcase their work at the Triveni Gallery.
INCEPTION GRANT FOR ART WRITERS - In Memory of Preet Mendiratta
Preet Mendiratta (1991-2018), was a freelance writer, musician, art aficionado, and dreamer. This initiative aims to support and recognize the talent and creativity of writers in the field of art. Two grants, each worth INR 50,000, are available to encourage young art writers from South Asia.
For more information, visit the Inception Grant for Art Writers page.