The Independent Residency is NIRMAN's flagship programme. Designed for artists, writers, researchers, educators, and creative practitioners, it offers four weeks of uninterrupted time alongside an active community of artists, children, educators, and scholars.
Residents are free to shape their days according to their own practice. Some spend long hours writing or making work in solitude, while others participate more actively in the conversations and rhythms of campus life.
Residents are free to shape their days according to their own practice. Some spend long hours writing or making work in solitude, while others participate more actively in the conversations and rhythms of campus life.
The priority deadline is August 31 for residencies beginning in October. After this, we will accept deadlines on a rolling basis until spaces are filled.
At a glance
- Four-week self-directed residency
- 8–10 residents in each cohort
- Open to artists, writers, researchers, and creative practitioners
- October–April
- Selection by committee
- Private accommodation
- Scholarships available
Dates
- October to April, four-week sessions (exact dates available on application form). Extended stays available on request.
Costs
- $1450 - $2200 per four-week session, depending on the type of housing you choose
What's included
- Private housing in our quaint and comfortable guesthouse
- All meals, cooked fresh with ingredients from our organic farm
- Studios and workspaces
- Shared experiences including music baithaks, village and forest walks, a boat journey on the Ganga, and discussions.
- A final exhibition, talk, or showing along with other residents of the cohort
What's not included
- Travel to and from Varanasi, India
- Specialized art materials and supplies
Optional additions
- Hindi language classes
- Yoga
- Hindustani music or dance lessons
- Opportunities to engage with the school and local community
Awards and scholarships
- A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Awards typically cover between 20% and 50% of residency fees. Please indicate on your application if you would like to be considered for these.
- Awards: These will be announced when available.
A day at NIRMAN
Mornings start with quiet work. Some residents write in the library while others rehearse, compose, draw, or walk through Gangavan. Afternoons bring conversations over tea, visits to the village and city, or time spent in studios. Shared meals, music, and occasional gatherings punctuate the rhythm of independent work. No two residencies are alike, but each is shaped by the people who temporarily call NIRMAN home.
