Kirloskar Art Grant
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.
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.
In its second edition, this annual grant will support two 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 globalisation, digital immersion, and cultural change.
Grant Vision
Kirloskar Art Grant champions projects that go beyond traditional modes of seeing – those who explore the relationships between people, environments, and systems in an age of globalisation, digital saturation, and cultural transformation.
This grant celebrates photography and moving images not only as tools of representation but also as instruments for questioning dominant narratives, creating new ones, and fostering thoughtful visual discourse.
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
Two recipients – one photographer and one moving images artist – will be selected through an open call by a distinguished jury for the Kirloskar Art Grant, awarding each of 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 total production grant value)
- Opportunities to showcase and/or exhibit the completed project at the premises of the Kirloskar Group, as well as other prominent venues across India
Who Can Apply?
We welcome applications from emerging lens-based practitioners including those who work in photography and moving images within the documentary, conceptual, experimental, or new media formats.
This grant is designed to support lens-based work that engages critically with social, environmental, and cultural concerns and whose work challenges and expands the aesthetic and critical potential of visual storytelling in our era of hyper-circulated information.
Applications from practitioners engaging with specific themes of ecology, environment and culture are encouraged.
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
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2026
- Project Start Date: September 21, 2026
- Project Completion Deadline: March 21, 2027
Copyright & Archival Copies of the Artwork:
- Copyright remains with the artist. Archival copies of the artwork produced through the grant will be maintained by S. L. Kirloskar CSR Foundation.
Submission Guidelines
Applicants must submit the following materials via email to slk.arts@kirloskar.com:
- Project Proposal (max. 1,000 words) – Describe the concept, themes, and approach. Define the project’s scope and conceptual intent. Your proposal along with all supporting material should be submitted in one email.
- Artist Statement (max. 500 words)
- Portfolio (5–10 images/videos with captions and brief descriptions) – Submit as a PDF with captions (no larger than 5 MB), medium, and technical details in tabular format. Image files must be 300 ppi, TIFF format.
- CV/Resume – Include biography, exhibitions, publications, and details of any previous grants or awards.
- Budget Outline – Provide a detailed breakdown of how the grant will be used over the 5-month period.
- Project Timeline – Share an indicative timeline detailing steps, processes, actions and anticipated monthly milestones leading up to the final outcomes.
Budget Guidelines
- Equipment purchases such as cameras, laptops, PCs etc. are not covered.
- Consumables such as film rolls, SD cards, ink cartridges, and paper directly related to the project are permitted.
We look forward to seeing your vision through the lens.
For more information or queries, please contact: slk.arts@kirloskar.com
