Serendipity Grants

Enduring Traditions Grant

Still from Rudhi, a film by Enduring Traditions 2023 grantee, Amogh Sahaje.

About

For its third edition, the Enduring Traditions grant continues its mission to document and preserve India’s rapidly vanishing art and craft forms, folk traditions, and festivals. Over the decades, many of these practices have been steadily dwindling, and today, several stand on the brink of disappearance. The growing insularity across the subcontinent has further marginalized traditional practices belonging to diverse faiths and communities, while rapid urbanization in rural India is accelerating the erosion of agnostic folk traditions. Rituals and cultural expressions that were once integral to daily life are now fading into memory.

This grant aims to support efforts in documenting these endangered traditions, contributing to the development of a digital archive that safeguards them for future generations. In this edition, two selected grantees will receive a grant of up to INR 3 lakhs each to produce a documentary film, capturing the richness of these art forms and the stories of the communities that sustain them.

JURY

The grantees will be selected by a Jury panel. If necessary, interviews with shortlisted candidates will be conducted in the month of May.

INTAKE

2 Grantees

DURATION

12 Months

OUTCOME

  • A documentary film.
  • Audio in English with subtitles in the local language OR audio in the local language with subtitles in English.
  • Serendipity Arts will facilitate the screening of the film upon its completion.
  • The screening will be accompanied by a discussion between the filmmaker(s) and the local audience.
  • Possibility of the subject of the documentary film being showcased at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2026. The decision as to whether or not a project will be showcased at the Festival will be taken by Serendipity Arts at a later stage and is presently not an assured commitment.

PROVISION

  • The winning grantees will be awarded a sum of up to INR 3 lakhs each which can be used for the production of the film (filming; editing; sound; light; translations; equipment rentals); travel for research; documentation/artist fee etc.

Deliverables

  • The grantees must submit a project report (up to 1000 words) upon the completion of the film – this can include the film script, compiled field notes, essay etc.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Age: 25 years and above
  • Applicants can be individuals or collectives but the agreement will be signed with a single applicant or a representative.
  • Applicant must be an Indian national residing in India. In the case of a collaboration, at least one of the collaborators should be an Indian national residing in India.
  • Applicant must hold an Indian bank account.
  • Projects that have been previously presented as a research paper, symposium, or photo exhibition are eligible for submission.
  • The applicant should not have received any funding previously for the same project. If the proposed project has received funding in the past, please shoot us an email ([email protected]) for further discussion. The subject of the email should mention ‘Enduring Traditions grant’. 
  • The proposed film should focus on a single subject rather than a generic overview of the declining arts.
  • A background in filmmaking is mandatory.
  • A background or prior experience in research/anthropology/cultural criticism is preferred but not mandatory.

TIMELINE

  • The deadline for submitting applications is 11:59 pm on March 30, 2025.
  • The names of the winning grantees shall be announced by mid-May.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Completed application form with basic contact information.
  • One single PDF – (max upload limit – 15 mb)
    • Project proposal introducing the project (upto 500 words) along with supporting material for the project.
    • Supporting material could include concept storyboard, images (if available), video links (if available), research papers etc.
    • A timeline of the execution of the proposed project.
    • A detailed break-up of the budget.
    • A brief biography and CV including details of educational background and relevant work experience (upto 200 words each).
    • A statement on how this grant will contribute to your project and the larger context (upto 300 words)
  • A portfolio of the applicant’s past/present practice which can include written material, photographs, videos or other forms of documentation.

Terms & Conditions

  • After the selection, the winning grantees shall sign an agreement with Serendipity Arts to complete the selection process.
  • The intellectual property rights for the videos and any other media related to this grant or incidental hereto, shall be jointly vested in the grantee and SAF for the seamless and undisputed screening of the video. The terms of such screening shall be mutually agreed upon by the grantee and SAF.
  • Progress reports/WIP to be shared with SAF every 3 months, post receiving the grant.
  • The grant must be availed within 12 months of receiving it.
  • The grant will be released in two instalments – 1st upon signing the agreement; 2nd in November 2025.
  • The grant amount will be subject to 10% TDS deduction and GST deduction (if the applicant holds a GST-registered account).
  • Due credits to be given to Serendipity Arts Foundation wherever the Grant Project is presented or screened.

FAQS

Q1. I have already made a short film with a grant that I received last year. I want to use the Serendipity Documentation Grant to develop the film further. Am I eligible to apply?

A1. No, you are not eligible to apply. If you have received a grant in the past for the project you are proposing, there should be a minimum gap of 2 years from the date of the open call of the Video Documentation Grant (i.e. before April 2021). 

Q2. If I currently reside in India but am not an Indian citizen, can I apply?

A2. If you have been residing in India for at least 5 years, but are not an Indian citizen, you are eligible to apply. If you do not own an Indian bank account, you will have to apply in collaboration with someone who does.

Q3. If I have an Indian bank account but do not currently reside in India, can I apply?

A3. Ideally, the applicant must be residing in India. But if you are an Indian bank account holder who is currently not residing in India, you will have to make arrangements to be present for the screening/exhibition/symposium in India at your own cost.

Q4. I have two separate projects that I would like to propose. Can I apply twice?

A4. If you are proposing one project in an individual capacity, and another project in collaboration with someone else, then yes, you can apply twice. But, as an individual applicant, you cannot submit more than one application.

Q5. I am a practitioner of an artform that can be considered to be on the decline. Can I apply?

A5. The outcome of this particular grant is a documentary film. If you intend to use the grant to make a film on your community by yourself or in collaboration with someone then yes, you can apply.

Q6. If I have a film that I want to propose, but may not be able to finish the film in 12 months as I have other commitments, can I still apply?

A6. The outcome of the grant needs to be completed within 12 months of winning the grant i.e. from the date on the contract.

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