Request for Proposals: IFA-SOM Creative Projects | Deadline: March 06, 2022 (CLOSED)

India Foundation for the Arts (IFA)
in collaboration with
Star of Mysore (SOM)
invites applications for
Two IFA-SOM Creative Projects
under its Archives and Museums programme which IFA will implement

Application Deadline: Sunday, March 06, 2022

India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) in collaboration with Star of Mysore (SOM), Mysuru invites applications for two IFA-SOM Creative Projects under its Archives and Museums programme which IFA will implement.

The Archives and Museums programme of IFA has been initiated with a two-fold objective: to provide arts practitioners and researchers an opportunity to generate new, critical, and creative approaches for public engagement with archive and museum collections; and to energise these spaces as platforms for dialogue and discourse. For more information, click here.

About Star of Mysore

Star of Mysore, launched in 1978, is a popular local English evening newspaper from Mysuru and is the only "subscribed" eveninger in the country. This paper, together with its sister publication Mysore Mithra launched in 1980, were founded by KB Ganapathy and the late CP Chinnappa and are published by the Academy Newspapers Pvt Ltd, Mysuru. 

Star of Mysore has not merely recorded the history of the city for over 45 years now, but has given a voice to its local citizens. Much before the term 'citizen journalist' was coined in the late 2000s, this paper encouraged people in Mysuru to write, be they articles, letters to the editor or concerns and opinions. Both Star of Mysore and Mysore Mithra have provided a platform for highlighting local causes and have been in the forefront of campaigns like, 'Save Kukkarahalli Lake' and several others. The Star of Mysore strived and succeeded in converting noted novelist RK Narayan's house in Yadavagiri into a museum. Today, the paper has become a household name, and is as important a feature of Mysuru as the famous Mysore Pak and Mysore Mallige!

The archive has copies of the physical newspapers that have been printed from the late 1970s and digital copies of the online version. The papers are rich in local content and images, and trace the social, political and economic history of the city.

About the IFA-SOM Creative Projects

The IFA-SOM Creative Projects offer Project Coordinators the opportunity to engage with and research this archive over a period of a year, and create public programmes such as exhibitions, talks, workshops, etc. both online and offline, over the project period, which IFA will implement.

To view a copy of the paper, please visit https://starofmysore.com/

Applicant Profile:

We seek applications from curators, visual artists, researchers, journalists, writers, performers and other creative practitioners with a strong interest in research and working with archival collections. We also encourage applicants to think through interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches and methods for their public programmes.

Practitioners who are Indian nationals are eligible to apply. To know more about our eligibility criteria, please click here. Applicants from Mysuru and places close to the city will be given preference as the Project Coordinators will need to spend a considerable amount of time at the archive during the project period.

Application Guidelines:
Your application must include:

  • A proposal briefly describing a project that could be developed from the archival material. The description should include the vision, approach and possible outcomes.
  • A brief note on public programmes that could be developed from the material.
  • A detailed budget.
  • Your curriculum vitae with a brief description of a project you have been involved with as an arts practitioner or researcher. This description should comprise the vision, approach, processes, and outcomes that have resulted from that project. Please send us links and not attachments.

Project Budget:

  • The project costs should not exceed Rs 2,00,000/-.
  • You may budget for an honorarium of Rs 12,000/- per month subject to a limit of Rs 1,44,000/- for the entire duration of the project. Please note that the total amount is inclusive of the honorarium.
  • Our funds will cover only project-related costs and activities and will not pay for infrastructure costs or equipment purchase.
  • Please ensure that each budget category pertains to a specific item of project-related expenditure.

Please note that IFA will implement this project with you directly as Project Coordinator.

Key Dates:

  • The deadline for receiving applications is Sunday, March 06, 2022.
  • Interviews with shortlisted candidates are expected to take place in early March 2022.
  • The project will commence at the end of March 2022 for a period of one year.

Please note, considering the current situation, we only accept applications via email. Email your application or any queries to Suman Gopinath at suman@indiaifa.org.

The Archives and Museums programme is part-supported by Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi.