Call for
Sustaina India Fellowships
Application Deadline:
30 July 2025
About Organisation
Sustaina India is an innovative initiative at the intersection of art and climate change, jointly led by renowned artist duo Thukral and Tagra (T&T) and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), one of Asia’s foremost public policy think tanks. This collaboration brings together creativity, scientific research, and policy insight to address the urgent climate crisis in engaging, transformative ways.
Thukral and Tagra are known for their interdisciplinary approach, blending visual art, design, and community participation to reflect contemporary social concerns. Their artistic direction for Sustaina India brings bold, imaginative storytelling to the forefront of environmental discourse.
CEEW, based in New Delhi, has established itself globally for its data-driven research, strategic outreach, and policy recommendations in sustainability, energy, and environmental governance. The organisation has worked with over 20 Indian state governments and impacted more than 400 million lives, particularly in the Global South.
Together, they curate the Sustaina India Fellowship, exhibitions, and public programmes to encourage dialogue between art, climate science, and policy. Their collective mission is to embed sustainability into India’s cultural narrative by empowering emerging creators to spark critical conversations and solutions through artistic innovation and research-based practices.
About the Grant
The Sustaina India Fellowship is a six-month programme designed to empower three emerging creators in India to develop impact-driven art projects that engage critically with climate change. Now in its third edition, the fellowship offers a dynamic platform for artists working with mixed-media and multimedia to explore the intersections of art, climate science, and policy.
Each selected fellow will receive creative mentorship from Thukral and Tagra, and scientific guidance from CEEW experts, facilitating a unique fusion of artistic expression and climate research. The fellowship includes an immersive in-person workshop in Delhi and culminates in a 10–14-day-long exhibition in early 2026, hosted in a leading gallery space in the capital.
The programme supports works that challenge conventional narratives around the climate crisis, highlight resilience and innovation, and deepen the connection between humans and the environment. Whether through drawing, sculpture, sound, video, or performance, creators are encouraged to present bold, solution-oriented visions that inspire sustainability.
Sustaina India 3.0 welcomes both new and ongoing projects that interrogate ecological systems, explore material storytelling, and advocate for climate action. The selected fellows will benefit from a robust support system, travel and accommodation during key events, and a platform to showcase their work to a wider public and professional audience.
Who can Apply?
The Sustaina India Fellowship is open to young and emerging creators currently residing in India who are passionate about using art to address climate change. Applicants should be individuals committed to exploring and amplifying sustainability conversations through creative practices.
There is no restriction on artistic medium; proposals may include work in drawing, sculpture, installation, performance, sound, or video. However, the materials used in the final projects must demonstrate a conscious effort to maintain a minimal or zero carbon footprint.
Ideal candidates will have a strong interest in research-led practice, climate resilience, and the ecologies of care. Proposals that question dominant narratives, explore adaptive intelligence, and offer new frameworks for understanding the climate crisis are especially encouraged. Applicants may submit either new ideas or extend existing projects that align with the fellowship’s objectives.
The fellowship values practices rooted in long-term thinking, innovation, and systemic understanding. Prior experience with interdisciplinary or community-based work will be viewed positively, though not mandatory. Applicants should be prepared to engage in the full duration of the programme, including travel to Delhi for an initial workshop and final exhibition.
Selected fellows will be chosen through a jury-based process involving experts in art, climate science, and communications.
How to Apply?
Applicants must fill out the official application form with details about their proposed project, background, and artistic intent. The proposal should demonstrate alignment with the fellowship’s goals of addressing climate change through creative storytelling and research integration. Participants are encouraged to explore past editions for inspiration. The application must be submitted before the deadline, and selected fellows will be announced by the end of July 2025.
Application Deadline
The final date to submit your application for the Sustaina India Fellowship 2025 is 30 June 2025. No late entries will be accepted after this deadline.
Last Date to Apply
Ensure that your complete proposal is submitted by 30 June 2025 to be considered for the third edition of the Sustaina India Fellowship.
Grant Amount
Each selected fellow will receive a total grant of ₹3,00,000, comprising ₹1,50,000 as production support and ₹1,50,000 as an honorarium for project development.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
