nila HOUSE Residency

Production residency

Residency brief

Nila is a cultural centre of excellence dedicated to preserving and celebrating India’s rich and diverse craft traditions, with a focus on handmade textiles and natural dyes. Ingrained in the cultural heritage of artisanal communities, these crafts are defined by sustainable practices that have been used and passed down through generations. Nila’s mission is to support and strengthen these valuable systems through research, artisan outreach, farm-to-fabric collaborations, environmentally-conscious design practices, market facilitation, and the preservation of traditional knowledge.

Through its wide-ranging projects, Nila serves as a source of shared knowledge - inspiring individuals, communities, and industries to achieve new levels of accountability through regenerative practices and social responsibility.

Nila’s initiatives span across all India, with Nila House – its vibrant hub, standing in the heart of Jaipur. It is a space dedicated to sharing knowledge and the celebration of craft. Through artisan-led workshops, talks, immersive exhibitions, inspiration through artists in residencies, an open library and a working studio, Nila House encourages craft-preservation and sustainable practices, engaging an ever-growing community of visitors.

In partnership with Villa Swagatam, Nila House welcomes artists in residence within its premises of a unique heritage value. Through the Nila framework, the resident is exposed to the various crafts and communities that Nila actively works with. The artist can explore natural local mediums as forms of expression and actively engage in craft community projects. This is an invaluable opportunity for applicants hoping to enrich their practice through craft processes. They provide exposure to endangered knowledge systems and their custodians which is an exceptional opportunity for growth and exposure to community groups as well as to the craftspeople themselves.

  • Thematic focus Arts & Crafts (textile, indigo dyeing practices)
  • Location Nila House, Jaipur (Rajasthan)
  • Dates September 2025 - November 2025
  • Length of stay 3 months (open to extension)

Our Space

Built in the 1940’s, this elegant stone haveli had fallen into disrepair when restoration began in 2016. The meticulous revival was overseen by Bijoy Jain; an architect renowned for his award-winning work, employing slow crafts, sustainable choices and for using time-honoured techniques.

The stone walls were carefully restored using layers of natural araish lime, an age-old heritage craft. Each material selected was local, natural, and hand-finished, from the jute chairs to the hand-bevelled stone flooring. The result is a subtly crafted tribute to Jaipur’s aesthetic heritage, imbued with a contemporary spirit

Residency conditions

  • The resident should produce a series of artworks by the end of his/her residency at Nila House.
  • The resident should be willing to donate his/her artwork or artworks produced during the residency to Nila for future exhibitions on the basis of mutual agreement.
  • The resident should be willing to participate in at least one artist talk or presentation of his/her work to fellow residents, students and the Nila community.
  • The resident should be willing to participate in various public engagement events such as open studios, talks, performances, workshops, etc. organized by Nila House or the French Institute in India.
  • The resident should be open to visual documentation and promotional activities of his/her process by Nila as well as to dedicating his/her time, skills or artwork to one of the surrounding craft communities, where mutually deemed to be beneficial.
  • The resident will be provided with basic studio facilities, as well as workshop rooms and a common terrace.
  • The resident will be provided with on-site accommodation, which includes a separate lockable air-conditioned/heated room with an attached washroom, a laundry space, and an equipped kitchenette to be shared with the other artists.
  • The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 60,000 per month to cover his/her food and living expenses. (would prefer if mentioned provided by IFI)
  • The resident will receive a residency grant of INR. 50000 per month. (would prefer if mentioned provided by IFI)
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.
  • The residency should culminate their residency project with an exhibition at Nila House along with a talk/workshop/open studio.
  • The resident should engage with local artisan communities and craft techniques during their residency at Nila.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant

Past Laureates

Second Edition (2024 - 2025)
Marisol Santana Artist and Designer
First Edition (2023 - 2024)
Martha-Maria Le Bars