TAF AWARDS 2027 – SOUTH ASIA

NEW!!!!! OPEN CALL ! Having successfully run Four Editions of the TAF Awards- South Asia 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, we now announce the Fifth Edition of the TAF Artist Award 2027.

This is an Open Call to all South Asian artists and the diaspora (South Asian lineage located across the globe) to apply for the TAF Award 2027.

If you are interested in Sponsorship opportunities for the award, please email us on info@theartsfamily.com

TAF Emerging Artist Award Jury

Meet the passionate minds driving The Arts Family forward. Our family of dedicated professionals brings together a wealth of expertise in international contemporary and modern art, united by a shared commitment to promoting art from South Asia.

Amit Kumar Jain

Art and Culture Advisor, New Delhi

Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano

Art Curator, Researcher & Author

David Bellingham

Art Historian, Author and Program Director, SIAL

Julia Hutt

Curator - Ex Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Lekha Poddar

Founder - Devi Art Foundation, New Delhi

Malini Roy

Head of Visual Arts, British Library London

Neha Jaiswal

Founder- The Arts Family

Shanti Panchal

Jury - Jackson Polock Art Prize 2022 & British Asian Artist

Stephen Snoddy

Director - The New Art Gallery, Walsall, Uk

Open Call- for TAF Emerging Artist Award South Asia 2025

The Arts Family (TAF) will announce about accepting applications for it's Fifth Edition of TAF EMERGING ARTIST AWARD- SOUTH ASIA 2026 soon. The award is open to artists from the age of 25 to 45 years and under of South Asian origin i.e. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and the diaspora. Our aim is to support talented emerging artists from these regions and assist them in building their careers by providing them with exposure and guidance in the international art market.

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DATES-

SUBMISSION DATE- Please submit your entries by __________GMT/London. Around 15 shortlisted candidates will be contacted in ______ ____to further verify details and the announcement will be made public in January 2026. The top 3 winners will be announced in __.__________.

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HOW TO APPLY-

Get your portfolios ready! Email us the following information on apply26@theartsfamily.com

1) Images of three different bodies of artworks from different series produced in the last three years.

2) A short writeup about these works/series and

3) Artist CV (clearly stating your name, dob, educational background and history of exhibition/shows).

The artists are free to choose any working media- Painting | Sculpture | Photography | Digital | New Media | Design. There is no restriction on media or sizes of artwork. The awards will go to the emerging artists showing innovation and mastery in their subject and working media. The winners will be judged by an international board of acclaimed jury and all decisions are final. Jury announced.

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THE AWARDS-

The following cash prizes will be awarded-

1st Prize- £1500 | 2nd Prize- £1000 | 3rd Prize- £500

YOUNG ARTIST MENTION- 1 artist between the ages of 25-28 years will be announced as a special mention and will receive £250.

A Residency for a month at the prestigious BSJW (The Borlase Smart John Wells) Trust, offering studio space for artist to work in Cornwall, England. The Porthmeor and Anchor studios are probably the oldest working artists’ studios in the country, and are best known for the internationally significant artists who have been based there. Previous artists have included Julius Olsson, Stanhope Forbes, Frances Hodgkins, Ben Nicholson, Patrick Heron, Francis Bacon, Terry Frost, Roger Hilton, Peter Lanyon, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and John Wells, and more recently Rana Begum, Michael Dean, Nicholas Deshayes, Lubaina Himid, Richard Long, Katy Moran, Veronica Ryan, Daniel Sinsel and Caragh Thuring. The artist will be selected from the TAF shortlist after interviews in ____________.

Some shortlisted candidates will receive the opportunity for career mentorship delivered by one of the post-graduate students of the Master's Degree program taught by faculty of Sotheby's Institute of Art, London. We will personally match each chosen artist with a Sotheby's Art Business current student or recent graduate in collaboration with the faculty head of the MA Art Business in London. TAF will be co-ordinating the mentorship in close collaboration with Sotheby's Institute- (More details to follow)

TAF promotes the shortlisted candidates throughout the year on its website and social media platforms and other publishing channels.

FOR GALLERIES

Each year we collaborate with a gallery to showcase TAF shortlisted artists in group exhibitions. If you are a gallery interested in exhibiting TAF shortlisted candidates, do drop us a line on info@theartsfamily.com expressing interest in a potential collaboration.

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All entries must be sent to the following email address : apply26@theartsfamily.com

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NOTES FOR ARTISTS WHO APPLY-

1) The artwork images should not be more than 18 MB in total size.

2) Please make sure the submitted works for the art award have been executed in the last three years.

3) At-least 1 of the 3 submitted artworks must be available for a TAF exhibition as there is a possibility of a physical exhibition in India or London (TBC closer to time).

4) If a gallery represents the artist, please notify us in your application. All credit will be given to the gallery submitting the application on behalf of its artist. However, there is no extra weightage given in case an application comes through a gallery instead of the artist.

5) Shortlisted candidates can re-submit their most recent works to be considered for the award.

FAQs

Applying for the TAF awards? Here are some of the FAQ's to read before submitting your application.

Can anyone apply for The Arts Family Awards?

Eligibility varies by award. The TAF Emerging Artist Award and TAF Curator Award are open to applicants from South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan) and the South Asian diaspora with a demonstrable connection or focus on the region.The TAF Artist Award primarily supports South Asian and Global South artistic narratives; however, exceptional artists from any background may apply in collaboration with a South Asian artist.

How do l apply?

Please submit your application by email to apply27@theartsfamily.combefore 15 July 2026.

Can I apply as part of an artist collective for the TAF Emerging ArtistAward?

Yes. Collective applications of up to four artists are accepted; however, one lead artist must be designated as the primary applicant. If selected, the award and associated funding will be shared among the collective members.

I previously applied for a TAF Award and was shortlisted. Can I apply again?

Yes. Previous applicants and shortlisted candidates are welcome to apply again, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria for the award.

What should I do if I do not have a professional reference from a representing gallery?

No need to worry. If you are not represented by a gallery, you may submit a recommendation from another arts professional who is familiar with your practice, such as a curator, mentor, academic, or institution representative.

Can I apply for more than one award?

Yes, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each award. A separate application must be submitted for each award.

Do I need to be represented by a gallery to apply?

No. Independent artists and curators are welcome to apply.

Can I submit video or website links in my portfolio?

Yes. Your portfolio must be submitted as a single PDF, and you may include links within the PDF to videos, websites, or other relevant documentation that supports your application.

How are applications evaluated?

Applications are assessed by an international jury based on artistic or curatorial merit, originality, research, impact, and alignment with the award criteria. Focus on letting your practice shine through in your portfolio-shortlisted applicants will then be invited to an interview as the next stage of the selection process.

Do I need to use the grant for a specific project?

Yes. Award funding must be used in accordance with TAF guidelines and the proposed project or programme agreed during the award period.

Do shortlisted applicants need to attend an interview?

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to participate in an interview, presentation, or studio visit as part of the selection process.

My practice spans multiple disciplines. Can I still apply?

Yes. Artists and curators working across disciplines and media are encouraged to apply. Be sure to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of your practice in your application and portfolio.

Can I include work in progress?

Yes, provided it helps illustrate your practice or proposed direction of research and development.

When will the winners be announced?

Keep an eye on our website and Instagram for the latest updates throughout the selection process. Award recipients are typically announced within 3-4 months of the application deadline.

Will TAF retain ownership of my work if I receive funding?

No. Artists retain ownership of their work unless otherwise agreed as part of an acquisition arrangement outlined in the award terms.

Is there an application fee?

No. Applying to any TAF Award is free of charge.

Do I need to upload my images, writing sample, and CV as separate files?

No. You may either combine them into a single PDF (up to 18MB) or upload them as separate files-whichever is most convenient for you.

How many artwork images should I submit with my application?

Please submit 3 artworks from 3 different series. This means 3 artworks from each series, for a total of 9 images. While this is not compulsory, it is highly advised. What we want to see is your practice over the last 2-3 years.Sometimes artists also send a compressed PDF of their entire portfolio alongside these images, which is also acceptable.

Can I apply if I don't meet the eligibility criteria?

Please refer to the "How to Apply" section on our website for the eligibility requirements. Only applications that meet the stated criteria will be considered.

Can I apply as both an individual artist and as part of a collaborative practice?

Yes. You may apply as an individual artist with your solo practice or as part of a collaborative practice of up to four artists if you are submitting collaborative work. Please choose the application that best reflects the work you wish to be considered for, and include a recommendation letter from your representing gallery or, if you do not have gallery representation, from another arts professional.