South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund
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The South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund 2020-2021 grant cycle has ended, and we are not accepting applications at this time. We would like to thank each of our SAARF donors and grantees for making such meaningful contributions to the South Asian arts community during this challenging time.
The South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund was a direct response by the India Center Foundation to offer support to South Asian arts workers impacted by COVID-19.
In 2020-2021, the South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund distributed more than 40 project grants of $1000 to assist United States-based arts workers of South Asian descent (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) in performing arts, film, visual arts, and/or literature.
The India Center Foundation is committed toward funding equity among artists of different disciplines, and backgrounds.
Eligibility | What the Fund will Support | Timeline
Why this Fund | Who this Fund will Support | Who is Behind the Fund
Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant, applicants must be:
- Be of South Asian descent (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka);
- Work in the the fields of performing arts, film, visual arts, and/or literature as an arts worker (definition of arts worker is below);
- Demonstrate loss of income because of canceled or postponed engagements due to COVID-19;
- Able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers in the arts, and a public audience;
- 21 years of age or older;
- Not enrolled in a degree program;
- Residing and working in the U.S.;
- Not a full-time employee, board member, director, officer, or immediate family member of the India Center Foundation or funding partners of the fund;
- Not previously awarded a grant from this fund.
Arts Workers are defined as:
- Artists such as: dancers, choreographers, musicians, poets, actors, comedians, playwrights, directors, filmmakers, writers, composers, visual artists, etc.
- Arts personnel such as: technicians (lighting, sound, costume, stage management, production, editing), administrators, independent curators / presenters, producers, agents, managers, etc.
Please note that the India Center Foundation will make final eligibility determinations as needed. Learn more by reviewing these FAQs.
If you have additional questions, please email artsfund@theindiacenter.us
What the Fund will Support
The development, creation and presentation of work requires the time and expertise of a multitude of people, not just the artist, and involves countless hours of unpaid labor. Through the fund, we seek to pay arts workers for the unpaid labor that can be done during this time within the constraints of this time period (physical distancing, staying at home, etc).
Projects are not endeavors that need to have a final product, not stand alone. It can cover a portion of a larger work. This grant is to support progress towards the development, creation, and presentation of work. Projects should be viable to complete within 4-6 weeks.
Types of Artistic Projects
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Creation of music, dance, theater, film, visual arts and/or literature projects, including multidisciplinary projects (ongoing or new).
Examples of work can include but are not limited to:- Choreographer working on movements for a piece
- Editing a short film or continuing the edit of a longer film project
- Composing part of a music score
- Painting of a new work
- Beginning or continuing work on a screenplay or play
- Continuing work on a current or new draft of a written work
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Research for development of music, dance, theater, film, visual arts, and/or literature projects, including multidisciplinary projects (ongoing or new)
Examples of work can include but are not limited to:- Study of texts for a work
- Interviewing experts related to project’s subject matter
- Collecting stories for a work
Types of Strategic Projects:
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Strategic planning by a manager or agent for an artist
Examples of work can include but are not limited to:- Development of a marketing strategy for an artist
- Outreach to and/or exploration of collaboration projects with other artists
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Content creation for project deployment
Examples of work can include but are not limited to:- Creation of graphics for social media campaign
- Website development for a new work
- Editing of a promotional video
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Creation of resources to support careers in the arts
Examples of work can include but are not limited to:- Curating and conducting informational conversations with experts
- Creating instructional videos on how to get films screened at film festivals
- Building a website with resources for musicians
Selection criteria is based on financial need, viability of the project, and commitment to working in the arts.
Grantees will have to submit a project update within 6 weeks in a format that is appropriate for their project.
Learn more by reviewing these FAQs.
If you have additional questions, please email artsfund@theindiacenter.us
Timeline
The following is the timeline for the first two rounds of grants. Grant review will continue on a bi-weekly basis so long as there are funds available to disburse. Please note that ICF will make adjustments to the grant review timelines past the first deadline depending on availability of funds.
4th SAARF Grant round application will close on January 15.
Learn more by reviewing this FAQ.
If you have additional questions, please email artsfund@theindiacenter.us