Serendipity Arts Residency

Production residency, Group residency with Indian artists

Residency brief

Serendipity Arts is a cultural organization created in 2016 that facilitates pluralistic cultural expressions, sparking conversations around the arts across the South Asian region. Among its major programs is the Serendipity Arts Residency, an intensive studio-based mentoring programme for emerging artists working across all disciplines, including visual arts, lens-based and new media practices, text, sound, and other innovative media. Craft, being a specific field of interest for Serendipity for many years, they are looking to welcome a young French artist to research and experiment with the Indian traditions and know-how that can be found in Delhi and its surroundings.

Now in its seventh edition, Serendipity Arts Residency seeks to provide its participants with space and resources to develop their artistic practice, work on a new project and interact with the broader art community in New Delhi. In this regard, Serendipity Arts will help residents contact curators, artists, critics, gallerists, workshop facilitators, etc., whom they are keen to reach out to.

In the course of the three months, the residents will participate in a line-up of peer-to-peer conversations, critique sessions, artist talks and presentations, performances, masterclasses, workshops, and gallery and studio visits programmed by the Foundation. Alongside, they will be required to conceptualise and produce a new work. The residency follows 3 phases. The first being the exploratory phase which is focused on studio visits, exhibition visits, guest lectures, workshops, seminars, screening etc. to grasp the cultural environment of the city. In the second phase, the resident picks an art professional or organisation they wish to be mentored by, to further develop their project proposal. The final phase is the production phase where the focus is on creating work. The Residency will conclude with a showcase in an open studio format, which could include exhibitions, performances, explorations, and/or WIP presentations.

  • Thematic focus Arts & Crafts, Visual Arts
  • Location New Delhi (Delhi)
  • Dates May 11th to August 10th 2026 (tentative)
  • Length of stay 3 months

Our Space

Located in the vibrant capital city of India, the Serendipity Arts Residency benefits from a large and diverse network of cultural professionals and practitioners. The French resident – along with the 5 other Indian residents & 1 Curator - will have the opportunity to engage with this community, by participating in a lineup of peer-to-peer conversations, critique sessions, artist talks and presentations, performances, masterclasses, workshops, gallery and studio visits.

Residency conditions

  • The resident should produce an artwork by the end of his/her residency at Serendipity Arts.
  • The resident should be willing to participate in an Open Studio organized by Serendipity Arts at the end of the residency (early October), where he/she will showcase a new artwork, which can also be a work-in-progress presentation.
  • The resident should be willing to give up to 20% of his/her residency time to participate in various public engagement events such as seminars, workshops, artist talks, gallery & studio visits, etc. organized by Serendipity Arts or the French Institute in India.
  • The resident will be provided with collective studio facilities.
  • The resident could use up to 80 000 INR for overall production costs, to cover the purchase of material, implements, additional technical support as well as support for hiring a musician/scriptwriter/ costume/ set, etc. These costs will be directly paid to the different vendors by Serendipity upon presentation of the invoices.
  • The resident will be provided with on-site accommodation, which includes a furnished single room located close to the studio space, with a fully equipped kitchen 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.
  • 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
  • The resident has to be under 35 years old as this programme is specifically targeting young artists who are starting their careers and looking for a first international experience with a renowned institution and its vibrant ecosystem.

Past Laureates

Second Edition (2024 - 2025)
Valia Russo Visual Artist
First Edition (2023 - 2024)
Massandje Sanogo