Public Arts Trust of India and Villa Swagatam Residency

Public Arts Trust of India (PATI) is dedicated to promoting and supporting cultural practitioners who research the heritage and history of Jaipur and Jodhpur. Its initiatives foster a more holistic growth of arts and culture through artists residencies, commissioning, curating, education and professional programmes and community exchange, reinforcing creativity as an important part of everyday life through a multi-layered approach that gives the same gravitas to the work of emerging and non-artists as it does to those of an international standing.

This specific residency programme for Villa Swagatam - located in Jodhpur, one of the most emblematic cities of Rajasthan - will allow the artist to engage with the local community and develop new collaborative work. The project developed throughout the residency will later be exhibited at Jodhpur Arts Week in 2025 and could involve a variety of mediums, from sculpture, performance, video, sound or visual installations.

The resident will engage and explore the tumultuous history and mythology of Jodhpur, through its oral and material traditions. To this end, the resident will have access to PATI’s extensive research on the work of artisans, folklore artists and performers from the region. The resident will also benefit from PATI’s network of experts who will be available to support and build the residency programme on the ground, giving access to very specific communities.

Residency conditions

• The resident agrees to produce at least one piece of work that can be showcased during Jodhpur Art Week 2025.

• The resident should be willing to forge collaborations with the communities and to work in close conversation with the curators of Jodhpur Arts Week, Sakhshi Mahajan, Tapiwa Matsinde, and local experts.

• The resident should be willing to give up to 20% of his/her residency time to participate in various public engagement events such as open studios, talks, performances, workshops, etc. organised by PATI or the French Institute in India.

• The resident will be provided with studio facilities, as well as adapted means of production.

• The resident will be provided with on-site accommodation in the city, which includes a fully furnished room with an attached bathroom.

• The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 60,000 per month to cover his/her food and living expenses.

• The resident will receive a residency grant of INR. 50, 000 per month.

• The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.

Eligibility criteria

• Proficiency in English is required for the applicant.