Emami Art All India Open Call 2025
Awards and Exhibition
Application Deadline: 31 May 2025
Emami Art actively supports and promotes talented artists across India. Launched in 2020, during the pandemic as a support system, the annual awards and exhibition have provided support, mentorship, and a platform for discourse-building to young and emerging visual artists. Over the past five years, IMAGINARIUM Open Call has become one of the most anticipated Open Calls in India’s contemporary art calendar.
IMAGINARIUM 5.0 is open to
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Artists who have completed or are currently in their final year master’s degree fine art/visual art.
- Self-taught artists who have a minimum of 5 years of equivalent experience in visual art practice.
PS: Artists of age upto 35 years are eligible to apply.
An invited panel of jurors will select 10 artists based on their portfolios for the IMAGINARIUM 5.0 exhibition and awards at Emami Art, Kolkata.
Of the ten artists, three will be selected for awards of excellence.
INR 2.0 Lakh – First awardee
INR 1.5 Lakh – Second awardee
INR 1.0 Lakh – Third awardee
Awards supported by the Emami Foundation and Kolkata Centre for Creativity.
The selection & judging committee has full authority to accept or reject any application. The decision of the Committee will be final, and the gallery or jurors will entertain no communication on this issue. Only selected artists will be intimated about the awards and exhibition.
MEDIUMS ACCEPTED
Drawing/Painting/Sculpture/Glass & Ceramics/Printmaking/Photography/ Video/New Media/ Performance Art/Textile and Fiber Art.
PS: Large + site-specific works/installations cannot be accommodated. No production budget will be provided.
HOW TO APPLY
ONE PDF of a maximum of 10 MB in size should contain the documents mentioned below in proper order.
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Short CV with Passport size photograph
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Current Address Details
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Any Official Photo ID Card (Aadhar Card, Voters ID, Driving License)
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PAN Card
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Email address and WhatsApp number
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Facebook & Instagram Handles.
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Website Details (if any).
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Artist's Statement (Maximum 500 words) - We are open to accepting statements in regional languages but prefer English. The statement must be simple, lucid, and written without jargon. It should discuss the concepts behind the work, techniques etc.
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A maximum of 10 artwork images with details—The details must include the title, size, medium, year of execution, and a few lines about each work. If there are more than 10 artworks, the applicants can share them as a website link.
- For video works, please share links for a maximum of 10 videos. The videos must be shared as Google Drive links. WeTransfer links will not be accepted. The Google Drive link should be made accessible to all. The details should include – Title of the video, Duration of the video, Year of execution, A few lines about each work.
- Regarding Performance Art, please share stills and video links for up to 10 works only. The details must include the title, duration, year of execution and a few lines about each piece. The videos must be shared as Google Drive links. WeTransfer links will not be accepted. In addition, you can give up to two still images of each performance.
- If the artist is represented by any gallery, it must be mentioned along with the website link in the application pdf.
- Mention two reference names and contact (mobile & email). References can be your teachers, senior artists, or mentors. We will contact them only if necessary after informing you.
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Application PDF name and email subject line: Artist’s Name_IMAGINARIUM 5.0
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To apply: Email the PDF file to focus@emamiart.com
(In case of selection, all the artworks shown in the portfolio should be available for exhibition. If the works are not available for the exhibition, the selection will be nullified.)
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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All artworks submitted for jury selection MUST BE available for exhibition. The artworks for the exhibition will be selected from the ten images shared in the portfolio. If the artist does not have the works for the show, they will be disqualified.
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The artworks submitted should not be older than two years.
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The submitted artworks should not have received any awards previously.
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The artworks mentioned in the PDF should be new and have never been shown before.
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Sculptural and installation works of very large sizes may not be considered.
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The gallery does not provide any production budgets.
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In the case of video installations, the artists will have to bring all the gadgets and associated components. The gallery will only be able to provide a TV, which should be either wall-mounted or on a stand.
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All works may be considered for sale. Emami Art will contact the artists for sales.
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The selected applicant will be responsible for sending the artwork to the gallery. The gallery will only take care of the return logistics in case of no sales.
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The exhibition display will be completely handled by the curatorial team and the exhibition design team.
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The gallery will not be able to offer travel grants to artists wishing to attend the exhibition opening at the gallery in Kolkata.
Incomplete and late submissions will be disqualified: It is also strongly suggested that the applications and artist's statements are up to date and made specifically for IMAGINARIUM 5.0. Rehashed applications from previous years or other awards will not be considered.
IMPORTANT DATES AND DETAILS
Application Deadline: 31 May 2025
No personal calls to gallery team members will be entertained.
All applicants are requested to send their applications to focus@emamiart.com
Application subject line: Artist’s Name_IMAGINARIUM 5.0
For further information, please contact +91 62922 37612 or write to focus@emamiart.com
(Phone calls will only be answered during office hours – 10 AM – 6 PM)