Tara Books

Production residency

Residency brief

Tara Books is an independent publisher of illustrated books for adults and children based in Chennai, in southern India. Founded in 1994, it operates as a group of dedicated writers, designers, and artists who strive to produce rich quality content. Tara Books has worked extensively with different kinds of artists – ranging from indigenous communities in India to those who are from European art traditions.

Tara Books is also known to experiment with various forms of the book, and with artisanal production techniques – including their signature handmade silk-screen printed titles. Tara Books offers a residency programme for artists (Arts Residency Programme) and encourages illustrators and designers from around the world to participate. This is part of the publisher’s contribution to the establishment of a global culture of books and arts. In this context, Tara Books is joining the Villa Swagatam initiative to host a French illustrator or designer to work on a book project in close collaboration with Tara Books. It would culminate in a publication.

In the context of the location (see below) Tara would like to welcome residents particularly interested in ecology, nature, environment, sustainability, gardening and forestry. The resident should be curious, and interested in what the location has to offer. They should be open and flexible, allowing the experience to shape the project. They should also be interested in dialogue and critique, developing the project with the expertise that the Tara editorial and production teams offer.

While the residency is located next to Auroville, the Tara Books office and workshops are located in Chennai, around 3 hours by road north. Regular travels between the office and the residency spaces are made possible for the resident who can decide to stay for a few days in Chennai to interact with the Tara Books team, participate in workshops and experiment with the printing facilities available. Please note that Tara Books is not merely a printing house, and the production method for any book that is developed in the project needs to be discussed with the Tara editorial and production team so that it is appropriate for the concept, readership and visual technique.

  • Thematic focus Children’s book / Artist’s Book / Design / Graphic Novel
  • Location Auroville, (Tamil Nadu)
  • Dates January - February - March , 2025
  • Length of stay 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the scope of the project
  • Apply Now

Our Space

The residency is located on the outskirts of Auroville, next to Pondicherry, in an organic farm cum design retreat called Cashew Cottage. The farm grows organic food, has an ornamental garden, and is designed on a sustainability principle with complete wastewater recycling and solar power. It is home to dogs, cows and free-range chickens. There is adequate studio space in the living quarters for day-to-day work. The place is within a cycling distance of Auroville, and there are plenty of artistic practices to discover and explore in the various communities there.

Gita Wolf, the founder of Tara Books, lives in the cottage below the residency space. The residency space has two generous bedrooms, as well as a small kitchen, and common spaces for eating and working. There may or may not be another resident at the time of the residency. Tara has no objections to a partner sharing a room with the resident – against some nominal utility charges.

Residency conditions

  • The resident will be provided with on-site accommodation with fields and a forest view, which includes a private bathroom, a fully equipped shared kitchen, common spaces to eat and work, and a utility room with a washing machine. There is a resident caretaker on call for help or emergencies. The resident can enjoy the outdoor terrace, garden and swimming pool. The place is designed ecologically and aesthetically and has natural ventilation on all sides. There is no air-conditioning needed.
  • The residents’ travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.
  • 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 fixed residency grant of INR. 50 000 per month.
  • The resident should be willing to give up to 20% of their residency time to participate in lectures, workshops, conferences in local schools/universities and/ or other cultural activities organized by Tara Books, IFI or the Alliance française network.
  • The resident may be asked to give talks or workshops based on their portfolio at Book Building, Tara Books’ space in Chennai or at the bookstore called Books & Things in Kuyilapalayam, the main street through Auroville.
    • The resident may be asked to participate in literary festivals in the region such as the Ceylon Literary Festival or the Mathrubhumi Literature Festival.
  • A book is expected to come out of the residency on a topic related to the place: ecology, environment, plants, animals, food or sustainability. While he/she can come with some ideas, the project must be fresh, and arise out of the residency experience.
  • The resident is expected to complete a draft of the concept during the residency and then complete it in his/her own time, within an agreed deadline. During the entire process, the resident should be willing to work closely with Tara Books and be open to constructive critique, as the outcome is expected to culminate in a Tara Books publication, which may or may not be done in co-edition with a French publishing house.
  • The French Institute in India expects the selected resident to send them a short text (1000 - 2000 words) or strip testifying of their experience within 3 months of completion of the residency.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant.
  • The resident should have a background in illustration/design.
  • The resident needs to be mobile on a bicycle or a scooter to be able to make their way around.
  • The resident must have one book (minimum) published by a publishing house. Self-published authors are not eligible.