InterGlobe Foundation is excited to announce the third edition of the InterGlobe HERITAGE Fellowships with the aim of promoting India’s diverse heritage and culture. This initiative aims to bring together a wide range of scholars in documenting and researching the built, natural, and cultural heritage of India.

The Fellowships this year will focus on the 'associated intangible heritage' and 'associated craft traditions' related to significant built heritage sites across India. Fellows are expected to explore heritage sites not only through their architectural aspects but also as repositories of artistic and cultural narratives. They could focus on documenting associated ceremonies, rituals, festivals, and traditional craftsmanship, as well as investigating how local customs contribute to the site's significance. Examples could be diverse, such as the urban transformation of Kolkata during Durga Puja, the stone inscriptions associated with prominent sites, historic garden traditions, or even urban festivals such as the Rath Yatra’s or the Muharram processions. The program will also support research into the stories and folklore that enrich the cultural value of these landmarks.

This year, the Fellowships will be open to a variety of submission formats, including photo essays, written essays, illustrations, and other creative expressions. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to capture the theme of their choice, which can include documenting communities, craft practices, rituals, traditions, etc. around a built heritage site. The duration of the fellowship ranges from 3 to 6 months, depending on the end deliverables.

InterGlobe HERITAGE Fellowships 2024 will be awarded to two applicants. Submissions by the fellows will be featured on the InterGlobe website and its social media platforms, making them accessible to the public. The InterGlobe Foundation may also consider organising an exhibition to showcase these diverse submissions in the future.

Theme and focus areas

Applicants from all over India are invited to explore and interpret the themes of 'associated intangible heritage' and 'associated craft traditions' through their unique perspectives and extensive knowledge around a built heritage site. The Fellowships encourage the documentation and preservation of lesser-known aspects around a built heritage site using various mediums such as photography, written essays, illustrations, and more.

Eligibility

• Open to individuals in liberal arts disciplines, including students, faculty members, heritage researchers, and creative practitioners.
• Candidates with prior professional or academic familiarity with the subject under application may be given preference.
• Applicants should be of Indian origin, residing in India and must have an Indian bank account.
• Applicants must be above 18 years of age as on 1 August 2024

Deliverables/Output

• The Fellowship offers flexibility in determining project deliverables, aligned with the proposed research topic.
• Potential deliverables may include articles, photo essays, illustrations, or other suitable formats for disseminating the research findings. Candidates must quantify their deliverables by specifying the expected length or duration of their research, as well as measurable outcomes. This should be submitted along with the application.
• Additionally, a strategic intervention plan highlighting a community-centric approach for sustainable development, which will contribute to safeguarding the tangible and intangible heritage in the area (A prescribed format tailor-made to the topic of study will be provided later).

Language

The content must be submitted in English.

Essentials for the Application

The following materials are to be submitted as part of the application:

• Proposal: A 500-1000 word proposal should highlight the associated intangible heritage or associated craft tradition that the applicant wants to document and explain why it is relevant to document the same.
• Point to keep in mind:
  • Make sure you title your proposal clearly - highlighting the theme and the chosen site. e.g., “Documenting the Musical Legacy and Cultural Influence around Tomb of Tansen” or “Documenting Water Management Practices and Rituals around Rajasthan's Stepwell – Abhaneri” or “Mapping Rajasthani textile craftsmanship, including the techniques and traditions used in creating the textiles found in Mehrangarh Fort.”
  • Highlight your research methodology and process. e.g., “My work will include an extensive field study and interviews with XXX and will be presented via a photo essay or article.”
• Portfolio: The application must be accompanied by a portfolio of existing or published work along with a writing sample.
• Resume: Not more than two pages.
• Submission Plan: Provide a comprehensive plan outlining how the research findings will be shared with broader audiences. This plan should include details about the medium that will be used to document your findings, such as articles, photo essays, videos, educational resources, or illustrations. The applicants must quantify the deliverables accordingly. e.g., “I plan to complete the fellowship over 3 months, with the final deliverables including a detailed photo essay that would include 50 high-quality images, accompanied by captions for each photo, and an introductory text of 150 words showcasing XXX.” or “I plan to complete this project over 4 months, with the final deliverables including 5 articles of 800 words each highlighting XXX” or “I will submit my research findings in a mixed medium covering 2 articles and 15 illustrations highlighting XXX.”
• Timeline: Applicants should specify the duration of their research, including a breakdown of the timelines for each phase of the project. Once the fellows are shortlisted, the InterGlobe Foundation will collaborate with the selected candidates to discuss their proposed themes and finalise the deliverables and timelines. This collaborative process will ensure that the research objectives and output formats are well aligned with the goals of the fellowship.
• References: Two references along with names, phone numbers, and email addresses must be shared. These should be professional or academic references. Personal references will not be entertained.

Selection Criteria

• An external jury will assess all fellowship proposals.
• Short-listed applicants will have the opportunity to share their ideas and plans with the members of the jury.
• The jury may require shortlisted applicants to participate in a video call if necessary.
• Once the application is selected, the interview process will include further clarifications.

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• The overall quality and clarity of the proposal.
• The subject and its relevance.
• Clarity about the purpose and deliverables of the fellowship.
• It should be apparent how the documentation will help the concerned communities and suggest a valuable step in furthering the InterGlobe Foundation’s strategic vision of promoting and preserving Indian heritage and culture.

Award money, Terms and Duration

• Two Fellowships of INR 1,50,000 each will be awarded. This will include travel expenses and any other expenses borne by the fellow for the documentation work. No additional amount will be reimbursed or disbursed.
• The amount will be released in installments against specific deliverables. Any other expenditure incurred by the fellows will not be considered.
• Fellows are free to continue their primary occupation.
• The duration of the Fellowships is 3-6 months, beginning in December 2024.
• Applicants must not hold any other Fellowship or grant for the proposed project when applying.
• The proposal must be feasible within the InterGlobe Foundation's resources and the timeframe specified.
• Once appointed, the Fellowships shall be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding entered between the fellows and the InterGlobe Foundation.
• Photographers must arrange their own equipment for the shoot. InterGlobe Foundation will not fund any additional hardware or software.
• Applicants must provide a written confirmation that the proposed project has not been exhibited in a commercial gallery in India or abroad. Projects that have been exhibited previously will not be considered. Exposure of works from the proposed project across social media platforms is acceptable.

Timeline

• Last date for submission of applications is October 31, 2024
• Fellowships will commence in December 2024.

Broadcasting

All content produced through the Fellowships will be made available to the public in general, academic forums, civil society, state, and development practitioners through multiple forums by the InterGlobe HERITAGE Fellowships, InterGlobe Foundation, and its affiliates.

Ownership

Fellows will retain authorship of the final pieces/articles/photographs; they are free to publish the insights of their research efforts, with appropriate acknowledgement to the InterGlobe HERITAGE Fellowships and InterGlobe Foundation, in accordance with the terms of use of the InterGlobe Foundation name, mark and other intellectual property as may be communicated by InterGlobe Foundation. Fellows will also inform the InterGlobe Foundation about the publication of their work. InterGlobe Foundation too will have the copyright to collate and publish all articles and photographs and produce a compendium/distribution material with due acknowledgement to all fellows and their work.

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