Organizer Information
Gallerie Splash is a contemporary art institution based in Gurgaon, India, founded in 2010 by Jinoy Payyappilly. The organization has developed a sustained focus on contemporary art, research-based curatorial practices, and the intersections of art, design, architecture, and material inquiry. Its programming includes exhibitions, workshops, research initiatives, and platforms intended to support emerging artists and curators.
Since 2022, Gallerie Splash has placed particular emphasis on research-driven curatorial practice through its annual Curatorial Fellowship Programme, which forms part of its broader Splash Catalyst initiative. The programme is designed to provide younger curators with the resources, mentorship, and exhibition platforms necessary to develop research and conceptual ideas into publicly presented projects. Previous editions have resulted in exhibitions at venues including the Centre for Contemporary Art at Bikaner House in New Delhi, demonstrating the fellowship's emphasis on turning curatorial research into fully realised public exhibitions.
The 2026–27 Curatorial Fellowship, Edition 3, continues this model by selecting two emerging curators for six months of intensive, project-specific mentorship, financial support, exhibition production funding, and a public exhibition in Delhi.
Title & Description
Gallerie Splash Curatorial Fellowship 2026–27 — Edition 3
The Gallerie Splash Curatorial Fellowship 2026–27 is an opportunity for emerging curators to develop a distinct, research-led curatorial enquiry into a fully realised public exhibition in Delhi.
Two fellows will be selected for a six-month programme combining research, critical development, mentorship, curatorial writing, artist and collaborator engagement, exhibition design, scenography, production planning, and public presentation. Rather than functioning solely as a research grant, the fellowship is structured around the complete development of an exhibition, allowing fellows to move from an initial curatorial question or proposition toward a publicly accessible exhibition.
The fellowship welcomes proposals addressing modern and contemporary art, design histories and ideas, the living traditions of India, and interdisciplinary or research-led cultural practices. Projects that engage with underrepresented histories, communities, perspectives, or forms of knowledge are particularly encouraged.
Each selected fellow will work with a distinguished international panel of curators, scholars, and cultural practitioners. The mentorship is intended to help fellows critically test their ideas and develop a coherent relationship between research, participating artists, exhibition format, spatial design, and visitor experience.
The programme will culminate in a public exhibition in Delhi in June 2027. Fellows will subsequently submit a reflective report documenting the development, outcomes, impact, and challenges of their projects.
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Modern Art
- Art History
- Design
- Design History
- Architecture
- Anthropology
- Interdisciplinary Art
- Research-Based Cultural Practice
- Exhibition-Making
- Cultural Research
- Living Traditions of India
Eligibility
The fellowship is intended for emerging curators with a demonstrated commitment to research-driven and publicly relevant curatorial practice.
Applicants should:
- Hold a Master’s degree in art, design, architecture, art history, anthropology, or a related field.
- Demonstrate sustained engagement with research, critical theory, cultural history, or a related area of enquiry.
- Present a clearly articulated curatorial enquiry.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop an exhibition through research, dialogue, collaboration, and engagement with artists or communities.
- Be able to develop and realise the proposed project within the fellowship's available timeframe, exhibition space, and production budget.
Applications are welcomed from individuals and eligible collectives representing varied academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds.
One of the two fellowships is specifically reserved for a current Master’s student or a collective whose members are currently pursuing Master’s degrees in a listed or related field.
Projects that foreground underrepresented histories, communities, perspectives, and forms of knowledge are particularly encouraged.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Six months of mentorship from an international panel of curators, scholars, and cultural practitioners.
- ₹50,000 fellowship grant.
- ₹1,50,000 exhibition production budget for developing and presenting the proposed exhibition.
- Dedicated exhibition space in Delhi for the completed project.
- Travel support, including flight tickets for installation/opening.
- Three nights of accommodation during installation and the opening.
- Public exhibition opportunity in Delhi in June 2027.
- Professional development through sustained engagement with established curators and cultural practitioners.
- Support across research, conceptual development, curatorial writing, artist/community engagement, exhibition design, scenography, visitor experience, production planning, and public presentation.
The production parameters will be discussed and finalised with the selected fellow during the development process. The exhibition must be developed within the allocated resources, space, and programme timeline.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 September 2026
- Fellowship Duration: Six months
- April 2027: Fellows submit the completed exhibition proposal, curatorial note, and exhibition design.
- June 2027: Completed exhibition presented publicly in Delhi.
- July 2027: Reflective report of up to 1,000 words submitted.
Location
Delhi, India
Additional Details
The fellowship is particularly suited to curators whose practice is research-led rather than solely exhibition-management focused. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their central research question connects to the artists, collaborators, exhibition format, spatial experience, and intended audience.
During the six-month fellowship period, fellows are expected to progressively develop their proposals rather than simply present a fixed exhibition concept. The mentorship structure allows the project to be tested and refined through dialogue with experienced practitioners.
The programme's thematic scope is deliberately broad. Proposals may engage with modern and contemporary art, design histories, Indian living traditions, cultural histories, interdisciplinary practices, or other forms of research-based enquiry. Projects that broaden cultural discourse through attention to underrepresented histories, communities, and knowledge systems are particularly encouraged.
The completed exhibition proposal is due in April 2027 and must include the curatorial note and exhibition design. The exhibition will then be presented publicly in Delhi in June 2027, followed by a reflective report of up to 1,000 words in July.
Applications will be assessed on the clarity, coherence, and originality of the curatorial vision; relevance to contemporary cultural discourse; depth of research and critical engagement; ability to collaborate with artists, communities, and other partners; contribution to diversity and inclusivity; consideration of exhibition design and public experience; innovation; feasibility; and ability to work within the available time, space, and budget.
Important space note: the supplied announcement contains two different exhibition-space figures: the “At a Glance” section states 800–1,200 sq. ft., while the detailed fellowship section and proposal requirements state 2,000–3,000 sq. ft. Because this is a material discrepancy, applicants should confirm the final exhibition-space specification with Gallerie Splash before preparing their proposal. The previous edition used an 800–1,200 sq. ft. venue, which may explain the discrepancy.