Impart/Nalli Silks: 2027 Research Fellowships on South Asia Textiles

Overview

The Impart & Nalli Fellowships, a collaboration between Nalli Silks and Impart, supports research into under-explored textile-related histories, practices, and traditions across South Asia. 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. The fellowships will run from January–December 2027.

Eligibility

• Aged 18 years or older
• Residing anywhere in the world
• Proposed projects must engage with textile practices across the wider South Asia region
• Early- and mid-career researchers, designers, archivists, journalists, writers, educators, practitioners, collectives, and small organisations welcome

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; relationships between textiles and other cultural forms; techniques and technologies; South Asian textiles in the contemporary global design economy; intellectual property and cultural rights; and socio-cultural perspectives on handmade versus industrial textiles.

Supported Project Formats

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

Key Dates

• Applications open: 3 July 2026
• Application deadline: 31 August 2026
• Awardees notified: December 2026
• Fellowship period: January–December 2027

Application Requirements

The application form serves as a comprehensive project proposal. At the end of the Fellowship period, deliverables include: a Project Report written by the Fellow; a Research Dossier co-developed with Impart and hosted on their website; and project outputs such as audio-visual work, visual essays, written pieces, or curatorial work. Collaborative projects are permitted with appropriate credit to co-creators.

Selection Process

Proposals will be assessed based on the application form. Shortlisted applicants will participate in an online interview, following which 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.

Funding

Fellowship funds may be used to support research-related expenses, including travel, fieldwork, documentation, and other project costs, subject to approval. The grant must support one year of work, which may be part of a longer-term project.