Karishma Swali and the Chanakya Foundation, in partnership with India Art Fair, are honoured to present The Swali Craft Prize – an homage to the enduring and evolving language of craft. Grounded in technical mastery, conceptual depth, cultural resonance, and sustainable impact, the prize recognises craftsmanship as a precise skill and a profound mode of expression. It celebrates work that blends narrative with intellectual clarity, honours heritage while engaging the present, and upholds ethical practices that ensure the transmission of knowledge across generations.
Through this lens, the Prize challenges the conventional hierarchies between craft and fine art, advocating for a more expansive view of creative practice. It invites a renewed understanding of craft – not as static tradition but as a vital, contemporary force within cultural discourse.
PRIZE DETAILS FOR EDITION 2025-2026
The inaugural edition of the Prize will award a grant of INR 11,00,000 to a practitioner whose work reflects excellence in art and craft. In addition, the recipient will be offered a fully supported month-long residency at the Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai a space for reflection, creation, and dialogue – providing time, mentorship, and resources to further develop their practice. The final works will be presented at India Art Fair 2026 in New Delhi, with the potential to travel thereafter as part of a curated exhibition to a significant venue in India or internationally.
ELIGIBILITY
The Prize and accompanying residency are open to artists and craft practitioners engaging with interdisciplinary approaches to hand craftsmanship. Eligible applicants must currently live and work in India, and demonstrate an established practice through a minimum of one solo exhibition within the country and participation in at least one solo or group exhibition internationally within the past seven years.
JURY
Karishma Swali, Creative Director, Chanakya International and Chanakya School of Craft
Jaya Asokan, Fair Director, India Art Fair
Mickalene Thomas, Visual Artist
Reena Kallat, Visual Artist
Meneesha Kellay, Senior Curator, Victoria and Albert Museum
Jasmine Wahi, Curator x Co-Director Project for Empty Space
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, participants are invited to submit a digital portfolio by June 30th, 2025, via the link below.
Submissions must include the following:
- A complete curriculum vitae
- A short biographical note
- A digital portfolio
- A concept statement on the proposed project
- An initial visual proposal
- A detailed project budget
Download the full brief with detailed criteria here. For more information, check out the main website.