The Karun Thakar Fund for the study of Asian and African textiles and dress is offered by Karun Thakar in collaboration with the V&A. The Fund offers scholarships and project grants to researchers and practitioners working anywhere in the world on any aspect of Asian or African textiles and dress.
The Fund aims to enrich the fields of Asian and African textiles and dress by supporting meaningful and innovative study and practice, foregrounding fresh perspectives and ground-breaking research in under-resourced subject areas.
The V&A holds one of the largest museum collections of Asian textiles and dress in the world, and the extensive private collections of Karun Thakar span the textiles and dress of both Asia and Africa. Using both collections as points of departure, the Fund promotes materials-based, object-led learning and advocates for new approaches to the research and interpretation of historic materials.
The Karun Thakar Fund is made possible by the contributions of its generous donors. The V&A is grateful for their support.
Scholarship awards
The Karun Thakar Fund offers one-time Scholarship Awards of up to £10,000 to university students focusing on any aspect of Asian or African textiles and dress. Scholarship Awards are offered every other year, and multiple awards are available in each round. The last round of Scholarship Awards was allocated in autumn 2023.
Students of any degree level attending any accredited university worldwide are eligible to apply, provided they can establish their research/practice is tangibly linked to Asian or African textiles and dress. Scholarship applicants' chosen courses need not be textile or dress-specific, however applicants must be able to demonstrate that their own research or practice within their chosen course will be Asian or African textile/dress-focused.
Scholarship Awards are intended for use towards tuition fees or maintenance costs. The amount of funding awarded is decided by the Selection Committee based on an applicant's needs. Students may need to find additional sources of funding to meet their total study costs.
Project grants
The Karun Thakar Fund offers one-time Project Grants of up to £5000 (£10,000 in exceptional circumstances) in support of projects focused on any aspect of Asian or African textiles or dress. Project Grants are offered every other year, and multiple grants are available in each round. The next round of applications opens on 1 April 2024.
Emerging/early-career researchers, practitioners, and curators, as well as community leaders, grassroot collectives and community-based arts organisations based anywhere worldwide are all eligible to apply, provided they can establish their project is tangibly linked to Asian or African textiles and dress.
This year the Committee would especially welcome proposals for projects which explore the subject areas of Ghanaian Asafo Flags or South Indian craftsmanship in chintz production. Find out more on the V&A blog.
The Selection Committee is particularly keen to support those who have not previously received significant funding in support of their work.
Project Grants are intended for use towards unique project costs. For more information on project eligibility, please see the Project Grant Application Guidance 2024 document below.
The total amount of funding awarded will be decided by the Selection Committee based on the applicant's submitted budget plan. Applicants may need to find additional sources of funding to meet their project's total costs.
Apply
The Karun Thakar Fund will begin accepting Project Grant applications from 1 April 2024. The deadline to apply will be 23:59 (11:59 pm) on 31 August 2024.
Please read the Project Grant Application Guidance 2024 carefully for detailed eligibility and application guidance before applying.
Please read the Project Grant Guidance carefully for detailed eligibility and application guidance before applying.
Selection committee
Karun Thakar, Collector & Fund founder
Gus Casely-Hayford, Director, V&A East
Christine Checinska, Senior Curator, Africa and Diaspora: Textiles and Fashion, V&A
Ben Evans, Editor, HALI Magazine
Avalon Fotheringham, Curator, South Asia, V&A
Lulu Lytle, Director, Soane Britain
Divia Patel, Senior Curator, South Asia, V&A
Siddhartha Shah, John Wieland 1958 Director Mead Art Museum, Amherst College
Blog
The Karun Thakar Fund blog brings you the latest updates throughout the year including calls for applications, winner announcements and profiles of awardees.
Contact: karunthakarfund@vam.ac.uk