The Inlaks Residency at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York is a competitive, fully supported two-month spring residency for one emerging Indian photographic practitioner or researcher, offered through a partnership between the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, PhotoSouthAsia (PSA), and ICP. Applications for the 2027 cycle are open until 11:59pm EST on 31 August 2026, with the residency scheduled for any two months between April and June 2027.
What the residency offers
The selected resident receives a comprehensive package designed to support practice, research, and international exchange:
- A two-month residency at ICP in New York City, with access to studios, darkrooms, media labs, and the ICP Library.
- A $10,000 stipend to cover travel, lodging, and living expenses during the residency.
- Up to 24 hours of mentorship with ICP curators, educators, and librarians.
- Access to select ICP classes, public programs, and community events, plus opportunities to engage with ICP’s artistic and academic community.
This structure is aimed at fostering “critical inquiry, artistic experimentation, and international exchange within the field of photography,” with a clear emphasis on practitioners working with photography or visual culture.
Who can apply
Eligibility is specific and intentionally focused on early- to mid-career Indian practitioners:
- Must be an Indian citizen with a valid Indian passport.
- Must be born on or after 1 January 1992 (making this particularly relevant for practitioners under ~35 at the time of application).
- Must be available for the full two-month residency period in spring 2027.
- Must agree to abide by ICP’s Code of Conduct if selected.
There are also important exclusions:
- Applicants must not have participated in a foreign residency program within the past three years.
- Applicants must not have previously received international support from the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation.
The opportunity explicitly welcomes photographers, artists, visual storytellers, curators, writers, and researchers working with photography or visual culture—so it is not limited to “pure” photographers but extends to those whose practice or research is photography-adjacent.
How selection works
The selection process is two-stage:
- A joint committee from ICP, PSA, and Inlaks reviews all submitted applications
- Shortlisted applicants are interviewed online; one resident is chosen based on the strength of their practice, proposal, and potential to benefit from the residency experience.
This means the application’s project proposal and the clarity of how the resident will use ICP’s resources and community are likely to be as important as the portfolio itself.
Details
- Applications open: Now (for 2027 residency).
- Deadline: 31 August 2026, 11:59pm EST.
- Residency period: Two months between April and June 2027.
- Application portal
- Queries: admissions@icp.edu.
Cover Image courtesy: The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation
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