WARC+ : APRE Women Artists Research & Curatorial Writing Fellowship

Funded & Supported by Art Curio Foundation

The WARC+ Fellowship is an initiative by APRE Art House dedicated to producing rigorous, original scholarship on the work of a woman/ woman identifying artist (living or deceased) whose practice has been overlooked, under-documented, or insufficiently theorised.

In the contemporary Indian and South Asian art landscape, many women artists remain marginal within institutional and scholarly discourse despite their significant contributions. This fellowship aims to re-centre their practices through deep research, critical inquiry, and accessible curatorial writing.


Each edition focuses on one selected artist whose work warrants renewed attention. The fellowship culminates in a 2,000–3,000 word essay that articulates a critical and curatorial reading of the artist’s oeuvre, situates it within relevant discourses, and expands public understanding of their contributions.

This initiative strengthens the ecosystem for emerging art writers, curators, and researchers, and reaffirms the institutions and APRE Art House as a research-led, feminist-oriented institution committed to rethinking histories and narratives.

Our heartfelt thanks to Akansha Rastogi for her support and contribution.

Objectives

Re-centre Women Artists in Cultural Discourse: To foreground the practices of women artists (living or deceased) whose contributions remain underrepresented, under-documented, or critically overlooked within contemporary and recent art histories.

Enable New Scholarship and Research: To encourage the production of rigorous, original, and publicly accessible research that expands the critical and curatorial discourse around women artists in India and South Asia.

Build a Sustainable Knowledge Resource:To develop an evolving body of writing, research, and documentation that contributes to long-term feminist art histories and serves as a resource for scholars, educators, and the public.

Foster Archival and Contextual Thinking: To promote deeper engagement with archives, oral histories, studio practices, and the socio-political contexts that shape the work of women artists.

Support Writers and Curators: To create meaningful opportunities for art writers, curators, and researchers through mentorship, funding, and structured editorial guidance.

Strengthen Ecosystems of Visibility & Recognition: To support the recognition and inclusion of women artists within institutional narratives, exhibition histories, and contemporary discourse.

Artist Selection Criteria

Criteria for selecting an artist may include:

  • Limited critical writing or documentation on the artist.
  • Under-recognised contributions to contemporary or recent art practice.
  • Strong relevance to discourses such as gender, erasure, absence, materiality, or socio-political engagements.
  • Scope for archival research, interviews, or contextual inquiry.

Note on Contemporaneity

As a contemporary art gallery, APRE Art House approaches practice, research, and writing through the lens of contemporaneity- a framework that extends beyond chronological time. Contemporaneity, in this context, does not refer to whether an artist is living, recent, or working within a modern or contemporary period. Instead, it speaks to the continuing relevance, conceptual urgency, and resonance of an artist’s practice with questions that concern the present.

For the purposes of this fellowship, applicants may choose a woman artist from any era—living or deceased. However, the proposed research must demonstrate a clear line of contemporaneity.

Timeline Breakdown

Month 1- Orientation & Research Framework

  • Fellowship onboarding
  • Meeting with APRE: WARC+ team
  • Refinement of chosen artist and research proposal
  • Creation of preliminary bibliography and research plan

Month 2– Primary & Secondary Research

  • Literature review, archival searches, and material study
  • Contact with the artist, family, or associates (where applicable)
  • Studio visits or remote interviews
  • Formation of core research questions

Month 3– Deep Research & Structuring

  • Continued research and fieldwork
  • Outline of essay structure (argument, methodology, key themes)
  • First mentorship review session focusing on concept and structure

Month 4– First Draft Writing

  • Writing of full draft (2,000–3,000 words)
  • Incorporation of research findings into a cohesive narrative
  • Submission of first draft for feedback

Month 5– Revisions & Critical Review

  • In-depth revisions based on mentor and APRE feedback
  • Strengthening of analysis, clarity, and framing
  • Fine-tuning citations, references, and contextual framing

Month 6-8– Finalisation & Publication Preparation

  • Submission of final essay
  • Editing and design of digital publication
  • Planning of public talk/reading by the fellow
  • Launch of the essay on the APRE website

To Apply

Please specify:

  • Artist background and the scope of research.
  • CV
  • 1-2 writing samples
  • A 500–700 word research proposal outlining the approach
  • A preliminary methodology

Email to: info@aprearthouse.com or submissions@aprearthouse.com

Sub: WARC+ Application

Output & Dissemination

The fellowship will generate multiple forms of public-facing and archival output that extend beyond the essay itself, contributing to long-term access, visibility, and discourse around women artists. The outputs are structured under four key headings:

Scholarly Essay

  • A rigorously researched 2,000–3,000 word essay on a chosen woman artist (living or deceased).
  • Integrates archival research, interviews, and critical/curatorial analysis.
  • Intended to serve as a foundational text for future research, teaching, and institutional reference.

Publication & Online Archive

  • The final essay will be designed as a stand-alone digital/ physical publication.
  • Hosted on the APRE Art House website as part of a growing archive dedicated to women artists.
  • Future editions will accumulate into an accessible, long-term resource for researchers, students, and the public.

Public Programme: Talk, Lecture, or Reading

  • A public-facing presentation by the fellow at the conclusion of the fellowship.
  • Serves as a moment of dissemination, dialogue, and community engagement.

About Art Curio Foundation

Artwork Credits:
Pragati. Dalvi Jain, Installation shot of 'A Pound of Feathers'.
Sonia Khurana, 'My Peeking Red Bra Strap'.
Aakriti. Chandervanshi
Diana Mohapatra