OPEN CALL 2027

Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India - The Public Arts Trust of India (PATI) announces the inaugural  edition of SITE Jodhpur, evolving from Jodhpur Arts Week into an expanded annual format.  Taking place from 29 January to 19 March 2027, SITE Jodhpur marks a decisive shift from a  time-bound festival to an ongoing, site-responsive cultural platform that positions the city itself as  both context and medium.

The 1st edition is curated by Ranjit Hoskote, poet, cultural theorist, and internationally  acclaimed curator, known for curating India’s 1st national pavilion at the Venice Biennale in  2011 and co-curating the 7th Gwangju Biennale. For SITE Jodhpur 2027, Hoskote proposes the  thematic framework ‘LIVESTREAM’, which situates the city’s historic relationship with water at  the centre of cultural endeavour and intellectual exploration. As Ranjit Hoskote, the lead curator of SITE Jodhpur 1, writes in his festival’s concept note: 

Read Here

What remains, and what do we no longer see? What does it mean to live with water in a city that was built around it? In Jodhpur, at the edge of the Thar Desert, water has shaped the city’s form, communities, and everyday life. Stepwells, baoris, and jhalras were not only systems of storage but shared spaces of gathering, ritual, and collective care. Built in response to scarcity, they reflect a long history of living with limited resources through cooperation, responsibility, and attention to place. As modern water infrastructure has transformed these relationships, many of these sites have fallen out of use, leaving behind traces of older ways of relating to water, labour, and one another. This open call invites artists to consider what persists within these transitions, and how histories of water continue to shape the city today.

The open call invites applications from emerging and mid-career artists and collectives to develop site-responsive works that engage with Jodhpur’s water ecologies, built heritage, and communities. Participants will spend time in the city, encountering its stepwells, materials, and lived histories, and creating responses that draw from both visible and hidden narratives. We welcome practices that are attentive to place, grounded in research, and open to rethinking water not simply as a resource, but as a shared condition that continues to connect people, memory, and the urban landscape.

To read more about the Open Call, including the curatorial note, eligibility criteria, grant scheme, and application details:

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About

Application Process

We strongly recommend that all artists wishing to apply attend at least one of our proposal writing workshops and approach our team to discuss their ideas ahead of submission. Dates are included in the timeline below:

  • 9th June 2026 – Open Call Announcement

  • 1st Proposal Writing Workshop – 20th June 

  • 2nd Proposal Writing Workshop – 1st July 

  • 5th July 2026 – Application Deadline, closes midnight

  • 1st August 2026 – Selected Artist Notified

  • 9th August 2026 – Selected Artist Announced

For any large scale works or specific interventions, please contact us to discuss your proposal prior to applying. If you are submitting a performative work, please provide additional contextual information as you feel required.

Apply Here

Note: Selection is at the discretion of the “Jury”. Submitting an application does not guarantee a place.

Questions? inquiries@publicartstrustofindia.org

Frequently Asked Questions

  • SITE Jodhpur is a site-responsive contemporary art programme presented by PATI (Public Arts Trust of India). The first edition invites artists to engage with Jodhpur's historic water systems, stepwells, ecological histories, and community knowledge through the development of new work.

  • The open call is open to emerging and mid-career artists. Applications from artist collectives are also welcome.

  • Only Artists from India are welcome to apply.

  • No. Eligibility is based on career stage, not age.

  • We welcome proposals across all mediums, including installation, sculpture, sound, film, performance, socially engaged practice, digital media, research-led projects, and interdisciplinary approaches. All proposals should be responsive to the context of Jodhpur and the themes outlined in the curatorial framework.

  • No. We encourage proposals for new work that will be developed specifically for SITE Jodhpur.

  • The inaugural edition focuses on Jodhpur's stepwells, water systems, ecological histories, and collective memory. Artists are encouraged to think critically and creatively about water as ecology, infrastructure, culture, labour, and shared resource.

  • Five things: the depth and evolution of your practice; your ability to reflect and engage in honest self-inquiry; your openness to discovering and shaping a meaningful Question; whether this is the right time for you to commit; and what you will bring to the experience.

  • Selected artists will receive:

    • Access to key sites, archives, and local networks in Jodhpur

    • Curatorial guidance throughout the development process

    • Artist mentorship from a senior practitioner

    • Production support within agreed budgets

    • Opportunities to engage with local communities, artisans, and knowledge holders

    • Professional documentation and visibility through the programme

  • Yes. The selected artist will receive a production grant of INR 1.5 lakh to support the creation and presentation of a large-scale site-specific installation.

  • The selected artist will be paired with an Artist Mentor who will provide between one and three virtual studio visits during the development period. The artist will also receive ongoing support from PATI's curatorial team.

  • Yes. The programme is site-responsive and research-driven. Selected artists should be prepared to spend time engaging with the city, its sites, and its communities as part of the development process.

  • Yes. The selection is not based on literary fluency. The Artist should have a working knowledge of the region.

  • Yes. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a conversation with the selection jury, a chance for us to understand your thinking more fully.

  • SITE Jodhpur Edition 1.0 will support one artist to develop a major solo intervention.

  • Applications will first be reviewed by PATI's curatorial team. Shortlisted proposals will then be considered by an independent jury comprising leading artists, curators, and cultural practitioners.

  • We are looking for proposals that:

    • Demonstrate a clear engagement with the curatorial theme

    • Show sensitivity to place and context

    • Reflect thoughtful research and artistic ambition

    • Are feasible within the available budget and timeline

    • Offer meaningful public engagement with the site

  • In addition to funding and mentorship, the selected artist will have the opportunity to present their work to local and international audiences. PATI will facilitate introductions to curators, museum professionals, galleries, collectors, and other cultural stakeholders, helping to expand the artist's professional network and visibility.

  • Applications close on 5 July 2026.

  • The selected artist will be notified on 1 August 2026.

  • Applications must be submitted through the online application portal before the deadline. Please ensure all required materials are included.

  • Write to us at inquiries@publicartstrustofindia.org

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.