Call for proposals | Mrinalini Mukherjee Creative Arts Grant 2026: Deadline - 15 May 2026

Applying artists need to submit:

1. Project Proposal with budget and timeline (PDF, max. 10MB)

The Project Proposal (max 1000 words) should outline the project idea, methods or concepts that will be explored, your methodological approach, material/technical experiments that you plan to undertake, the process flow, project viability, documentation details, as well as other relevant details such as permissions and collaborations. Also, explain how this project is important to your practice currently and how it will help you explore new directions to take your work into. The Timeline should give us a tentative idea of the work you will undertake over the duration of 12 - 18 months from the start of the project. The Budget should indicate budget-heads for various expenses that will be covered under the project, and can allot up to 25% of total budget towards a personal allowance for the artist.

2. Portfolio of artworks (PDF, max. 10MB)

3. Detailed CV (PDF, max. 10MB)

Please read the Eligibility and Conditions for Application section below for further details.

If you have any questions write to us at info@mrinalinimukherjeefoundation.org with the subject "MMCAG 2026 query".

ELIGIBILITY AND CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION

What will the grant support?

• The grant will support a visual arts project proposed by the artist with grant of up to INR 10 lakhs.  

• This grant looks to help practitioners of visual arts to embark on an artistic project that foregrounds innovation and experimentation. Thus priority will be given to proposals that clearly indicate how this work will benefit their exploration of new domains, ideas or forms.

• While the artist may apply with projects in the intersections of visual arts and other artistic forms (theatre, film, science, etc. ) we will not accept funding requests for productions in other fields.

Who is eligible?

• Visual artists including but not limited to those engaged in painting, sculpture, mural, textile, printmaking, performance art, lens and media-based art.

• Individual artists or collectives with more than 15 years of practice, not including graduate/post graduate years. The submitted CV and Portfolio should clearly show a minimum of 15yrs of practice.

• Indian artists - An ‘Indian artist’ is defined for the purpose of this grant as an artist with Indian citizenship who is currently residing in India. In the case of a collective, all members need to be Indian.

• If you are applying as a collective, the primary applicant can fill in their name and details in the application form. The names of the others can be mentioned in the proposal document and all the CVs can be made into a single document and submitted for upload.

Who is not eligible?

• Those who don’t fall under the definition of ‘Indian artist’ as given above. That would include, Non Resident Indians (NRI), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) are not eligible to apply for this grant.

• Indian artists who are currently residing outside India.

• Artists / collectives with less than 15 years of practice.

What about collaborations with other individuals/organisations?

• If the the project is being developed in collaboration with another individual or organisation, or is receiving other funding, then full information should be provided about the collaboration and nature of support.

• Applicants must also clearly delineate the work that will be accomplished with the MMF's grant.

• Private galleries cannot be collaborators.

• Please note that the grant fund does not cover the costs of the collaborators.

What does the grant support?

• The grant amount will support project expenses including costs towards research, domestic travel, documentation, material for artworks, local transportation of artworks, payment towards services including professional services, assistant and labour, and hiring of equipment.

• The budget for the project can go up to INR 10lakhs.

• A provision for personal allowance for the artist can be made in the budget and should not exceed 25% of budgeted amount.

What does the grant not support?

• The grant will not support the purchase of equipment such as laptops, cameras or projectors. Applicants are requested to keep such expenses under personal allowance and not include it under project expenses.

• The grant does not support or account for an exhibition at the end of the grant period. Kindly do not include installation costs for exhibitions.

• The grant does not support any foreign travel.

How will the grant be given?

• The grant will be given to the grantee only after the mutual signing of an MoU which will include the finalised proposal for the project, with timeline and budget.

• The grant amount will be given in two equal installments - first, at the start of the grant period, and second, after the submission of the interim report.

What are the deliverables?

• The grantee will need to submit a final report with documentation of their work, and outline how the grant enabled them to explore new ideas, experiment with materials/mediums, redirect their practice, and evolve as an artist.

• The grantee will be invited to make a public presentation of their project as per the programming schedule of MMF.

THE SELECTION - JURY

The Mrinalini Mukherjee Foundation will invite an independent jury to help with the review process and selection of the grantee. The jury will include eminent personalities from the field of creative arts including artists, curators, institutional leaders, and educators, along with a member of MMF.

Application deadline - 15 May 2026

The vision for Mrinalini Mukherjee Creative Arts Grant is inspired by the boldness and ingenuity of artist Mrinalini Mukherjee, who constantly experimented with materials and concepts, unhampered by dominant trends, while developing fresh aesthetic assertions. Initially trained as a painter, her love for the three-dimensional form led her to explore new materials and methods throughout her life. Informed by diverse references, from traditional Indian and European sculpture, folk art, textiles and crafts, and the ideology of modernism, she developed a complex visual and conceptual language that didn’t adhere to easy categorization. After working intensively with fibre for more than two decades she made a conscious shift towards ceramics and bronze, pushing the envelope in terms of creative process, form, meaning and concept.

Growing up with artists parents Benode Behari and Leela Mukherjee, Mrinalini continued working with the deep commitment to creative excellence and innovation that was central to their lives as artists and teachers. Like them she drew inspiration from not only the great masters, but remained aware of the versatility and creative potential of living traditions and always looked to nature for inspiration. Even as established artists they remained lifelong learners, studying and honing their skills every step of the way. It is in this spirit of life-long learning that the MMCAG was instituted in 2022, and hopes to support artists who need the support at the crucial time in their artistic lives as they try shifting directions with their practice.