IFTS Fellowship

Imporatant Dates/Announcements

Application

Invitation for Delegations will open shortly

There are four fellowships awarded under two titles:

The Vinay and Rakesh Bharadwaj – IFTS Fellowship:

Supported by the Rakesh Bharadwaj Foundation

KSFE – IFTS Fellowship

Supported by Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd (KSFE)

Social Extention Programme - IFTS Fellowship

The IFTS Fellowship, supported by the Rakesh Bhardwaj Foundation and Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd. (KSFE), is envisioned as the Social Extension Programme of IFTS 2027. It seeks to connect theatre education and practice with wider communities, particularly by creating opportunities for young theatre practitioners to contribute to society while learning from community-based knowledge and experiences.

Aim

The fellowships aims to establish meaningful and productive relationships between IFTS and diverse communities through sustained artistic and pedagogical engagement.

Objectives

To provide a platform for young individuals to contribute to community development with their knowledge and skills.
To share knowledge acquired through IFTS with society and promote a culture of continuous learning.
To promote sustainable and community-driven initiatives that address local challenges and contribute to long-term development.
To empower fellows with leadership and project management skills to initiate and implement positive changes within their communities.

Eligibility

This scholarship is awarded to post graduate students in their final year, and the application is open to individuals under the age of 35.

Selection

A duly constituted selection committee will select the candidate from the received applications and proposals, based on the merits of the candidate and relevance of their proposed project.

Engagement:

Fellows will engage with identified communities through part-time projects and collaborative initiatives during the fellowship period.

Fellowship Duration & Support

Selected fellows will receive a monthly fellowship of ₹10,000 for one year.

Guidelines and Requirements for Apply

The project must align with the festival’s central theme.
Selection criteria are based on the performance and aptitude of the candidate and their presentation at the interview.
This fellowship is open to individuals engaged in research, whether as part of a research community or through solo production. The project may be a research project with the potential for implementation or further study, or it may involve an action that the fellow could implement or work on with the community near the fellow.
It will consist of field visits to understand the basic interests and capabilities of the candidate, as well as their work plan during the fellowship.
Selection will be based on the merit of the submitted project proposal and an interview with the panel. An interview will be arranged for selected candidates to finalise the final list.
Term evaluations will occur at the 6th, 9th, and 12th months from the project’s commencement. The final fellowship amount will be disbursed upon project completion, with a 2-month buffer period at the end. The total amount for the final two months will be released only following the submission of the project.
A body consisting of members from national and international pedagogues and any other dignitaries at the discretion of the festival’s organising committee.
Documentation is a requirement and will be reviewed during progress meetings. It is required that a written report of 60 pages be submitted, containing a minimum of 20,000 words and presented in single-spacing. The report should include relevant project-related documents, photographs, and videos.
On-demand by the IFTS committee, the project’s culmination should be showcased in the concluding IFTS. If it happens, expenditure will be borne by the IFTS.