Impart and Nalli Fellowships 2027 on South Asia textiles

Overview

The Impart and Nalli Fellowships support research into under-explored textile-related histories, practices, and traditions across South Asia. Two Research Fellowships will be awarded annually, each carrying a grant of INR 5.5 lakhs to support one year of independent research and project development. The programme is a collaboration between Nalli Silks (a heritage textile brand established in 1928) and Impart (an online platform dedicated to developing accessible resources on South Asia's art histories).

Key dates

• Applications open: 3 July 2026
• Submission deadline: 31 August 2026
• Notification: December 2026
• Fellowship period: January – December 2027

Eligibility

Open to applicants aged 18 years or older, residing anywhere in the world, whose proposed projects engage with textile practices across the wider South Asia region (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan). The fellowship welcomes applications from early- and mid-career researchers, designers, archivists, journalists, writers, educators, practitioners, collectives, and small organisations.

Supported project formats

• Journalistic inquiry
• Documentary film
• Archive activation
• Practice-based research
• Archive generation
• Digitisation and documentation initiatives
• Exhibition or book projects

Areas of focus

Applicants may propose projects on any textile-centric subject. Encouraged areas include: textiles in religious, literary, liturgical, and mythological contexts; environmental impact of textile production; endangered textile traditions; critical perspectives on textile revivalism and archives; labour in textile production (caste, class, gender); relationships between textiles and other cultural forms; techniques and technologies of specific textile traditions; South Asian textiles in the contemporary global design economy; intellectual property and cultural rights; and perspectives on handmade versus industrial textiles.

Award

Two Research Fellowships will be awarded, each carrying a grant of INR 5.5 lakhs to support one year of independent research and project development.

Expected outcomes

The grant must be used to support one year of work, which may be part of a longer-term project. At the end of the Fellowship period, the following deliverables are required: a Project Report written by the Fellow; a Research Dossier co-developed with Impart and hosted on Impart's website; and Project Outputs (a set of final works including audio-visual, visual essays, written pieces, or curatorial work). Collaborative projects are permitted.

Selection process

Applications will be reviewed after the application period closes. Proposals will be assessed on the information provided in the application form. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in an online interview, following which the final selection will be made. The jury is composed of Ms. Noorjehan Bilgrami, Dr Toolika Gupta, Ms. Paola Manfredi, and Ms. Lavanya Nalli. Successful applicants will be notified by email and results announced through Impart's official channels.

How to apply

The application form is structured to serve as a comprehensive project proposal. A preview of the application form can be accessed on the Impart + Nalli Fellowships page. Applications are made online.