Applications Invited for MAP Academy & Nalli Fellowship

Follow us@ngobox

About the Organization

We are a team of researchers, editors, writers and creatives united by a shared goal of building more equitable resources for the study of art histories from the Indian subcontinent. We work and collaborate remotely across India, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, and together, we have built the MAP Academy — a non-profit online platform consisting of an Encyclopedia, Courses and Stories— which encourages knowledge building and engagement with the visual arts of the region.

About the Fellowship

After completing a successful first cycle in 2024-25, the second and third cycle of the MAP Academy & Nalli Fellowship programme will open to new applicants in August 2025. A total of four Fellowships will be awarded, each carrying a one-time grant of INR 5,50,000.

This Fellowship programme is a collaboration between Nalli Silks, the heritage textile brand, and the MAP Academy, a platform encouraging greater and more equitable engagement with South Asia’s art and cultural histories.

Process & Funding Cycles

• The application process will go live in August 2025, and close in October 2025.
• Two fellows will be chosen for the Second Cycle and will be expected to complete their research project between February 2026-January 2027. Funds will be released in February 2026.
• Two more fellows will be chosen for the Third Cycle, with the project’s timeline extending from April 2026-March 2027. Funds will be released in April 2026.

Areas of Focus

The Fellowship programme supports research into under-explored textile-related histories, practices, and traditions across South Asia. Applicants may propose projects on any textile-centric subject. The following areas of research are encouraged:

• Histories of clothing and costume
• Community or personal textile archives
• Textiles in religious or liturgical contexts
• Environmental impact of textile production and consumption 
• Endangered or disappearing textile traditions
• Critical perspectives on revivalism
• Labour in textile production, with a focus on caste, class, and gender
• Textiles in relation to other cultural forms—storytelling, poetry, music, architecture, and material culture
• Textiles in the context of archaeological study
• Textiles as symbols or metaphors in literature or mythology
• Techniques and tools used in specific textile traditions

Eligibility

The Fellowship is open to early- and mid-career professionals. We invite applications from researchers as well as designers, archivists, journalists, writers, educators, practitioners, and also collectives and non-profit organisations.

How to Apply

The application form is structured to serve as a comprehensive project proposal. Applications are open till 15th of October 2025.

Application Form

For more information please check the Link

Join us for the 12th Edition of India CSR & ESG Summit 2025 | Register Now

Tags Environment and Sustainability Research Others