RAFUNAAMA GRANT 2026

The threads that bind our communities are worn and torn, wounded by histories of colonialism, division, and designed polarizations. Yet, within the fibre of textile art lies a quiet power: to mend, to heal, to bring us closer.

 

Rafunaama invites artists and collectives from across South Asia to weave new stories of repair and care through textile art. This is a space for those who work with fabrics and textiles in any form to heal the fractures in our communities.

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What We Offer​​

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​​A grant of 50,000 INR to realize your proposed project. Three grants will be offered in this round.

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Eligibility

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• Individual artists (Indian nationals aged 18 and above)

• Duos/collectives across South Asia with at least one member who is an Indian National aged 18 and above

• Current or previous Rafunaama Grantees and partners are not eligible to apply.​

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Note: Those who have not received financial or institutional support for their work in the past will be prioritised in the selection process. But, having prior funding is not a barrier for applications.

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What We Fund

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Ongoing or new projects focusing on healing, repairing, and connecting communities through textile art. This can be a stitched or woven artwork, a series of workshops using fabric, explorations with block printing or dyes, textile collages, collaborative quilts, etc.

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We welcome your creative interpretations and ideas as long as the intentions behind it align with the goals of this grant. Take a look at our 2025 grantees for some idea of work we have supported in the past. 

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​​​​​​​​Selection Process

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Applications will be reviewed for eligibility by the Rafunaama team and final selections will be made by an independent jury of artists and practitioners who bring diverse explorations of textile art and social change to this process. Many of our jurors have themselves navigated the barriers that changemakers face when trying to challenge existing systems, and they bring that understanding into how they read your work. Meet the 2026 Jury.

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Language & Access

 

​We warmly welcome folks across all identities and abilities to apply. No degrees or portfolios needed, just your vision and intentions.

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At the moment, we don't have the capacity to translate this call into every South Asian language. Apply in whatever language you're most comfortable in, written, spoken, or filmed. This is a resourcing limit, not a hierarchy of who belongs here. 

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Apply in any South Asian language (Note: AI-assisted translation will be used to enable the jurors to go through your application).

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​​​Accessible versions of the grant call and application form for translation and readability are available here. You are also welcome to record a video or audio of your application and email it to rafunaama@gmail.com

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A Note on AI Use

 

We understand that AI tools have made this kind of opportunity more accessible to people who traditionally haven't had access to it. Your application will not be assessed negatively for using AI.

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That said, we encourage you to trust us with your raw and authentic ideas. Our jury has been consciously assembled from artists who hold similar values, and we would rather receive something imperfect and genuinely yours than something polished but not.

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Applications will not be assessed on language or grammar. You're welcome to use AI to help draft, edit, or translate your application, as long as the ideas themselves are your own.

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Timeline

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• Application Deadline: 4th October 2026

• Decisions will be shared by end November

• Projects must be completed by August 2027