THE BRIJ Cultural Leaders Fellowship has officially welcomed its inaugural cohort, launching a vital new conversation on creative leadership in India. Supported by the French Embassy in India, the programme brings together seventeen dynamic professionals to address the future of public and institutional life.
About the Cultural Leaders Fellowship
Delivered by Serendipity Arts, THE BRIJ fellowship is a specialized nine-month leadership development programme. For its inaugural cohort, 17 fellows were selected from more than 100 applications across the country. They came together for their opening residential in Goa from June 20–26, 2026. Together, the fellows represent a long-term investment in cultural practitioners who can sustainably shape India’s creative ecosystem.
A Discursive Approach to Leadership
Unlike traditional leadership programmes focused strictly on management frameworks, this fellowship is built around inquiry and deep reflection. Instead, Course Director Smriti Rajgarhia designed the first phase, titled Self & Context, around questions of identity, voice, ethics, and responsibility.
Over six days, fellows engaged in workshops, peer-learning sessions, and strengths-based coaching. As a result, they were encouraged to challenge their own assumptions before navigating broader institutional structures.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations
The inaugural cohort spans a diverse cross-section of sectors, including heritage, museums, performing arts, publishing, public policy, and creative entrepreneurship. In addition, fellows participated in dialogues with leading cultural voices such as Urvashi Butalia, Maya Rao, and Dr. Mukund Rajan.
Meanwhile, Grégor Trumel of the French Institute in India supported the programme. The initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of Cultural Passeurs capable of connecting global and local institutions.
Cultural Leaders Fellowship Details
Overall, THE BRIJ Cultural Leaders Fellowship brings together professionals from different areas of India’s cultural ecosystem.
Programme: THE BRIJ Cultural Leaders Fellowship (Inaugural Cohort)
Organiser: Serendipity Arts
Support: The French Embassy in India / French Institute in India
Location: Goa, India (Opening Residential)
Duration: 9-Month Fellowship (Three Phases)
Fellows: Abu Sufiyan Khan, Anshul Gandhi, Anuj Mahotra, Chhavi Jain, Dipti Rao, Kush Dhebar, Lekha Naidu, Maharshee Dev Mahanta, Dr. Pallavi Narayan, Pooja Yadav, Prachi Dalal, Rajatri Biswas, Ritik Rawat, Rubina Singh, Shanmukha Priya Mohan, Umang Sinha, and Vidushi Bhatia.
This article has been created from the press kit shared with Abir Pothi. For press releases and related queries, write to editor@abirpothi.com.
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