Gender Bender 2024
Open Call for Applications
What is Gender Bender?
Gender Bender is a one-of-its-kind-annual festival held in Bangalore, India, that showcases new works of art that re-examine and re-imagine the spectrum that is gender. What started as a platform to display the works of the grantees, has over the last eight years, grown into a much-needed and recognised space for important conversations that aim to contribute to our constantly evolving understanding of gender and its implications, including the need for intersectionality, with artists and audiences alike. The festival showcases works created by the grantees, and also includes curated performances, panel discussions, exhibitions and workshops.
Gender Bender 2024 grant includes a maximum grant amount of INR 75,000 towards the creation of the work, awarded at the discretion of the panel with due reference to your proposal and budget. Selected projects will be presented in Bangalore between November 27-30, 2024.
Gender Bender is conceived, conceptualised, and curated by Sandbox Collective, and is a joint project of Sandbox Collective and the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore.
Who can apply?
We invite applications from individuals and collectives working in the field of arts to create new and original* work around the idea of gender. You are encouraged to approach this theme in a critical way, in relation to your own perspective. The artistic contributions can take any form of expression across different media - from dance to drawing, from photography to pottery, mixed media to mime, and everything in between, so long as it is new work that can be presented, performed, screened, or exhibited to an audience.
* The proposed projects should not have had a public showcase/performance.
* Applications from marginalised and underserved communities are encouraged.
* Former Gender Bender grantees are not eligible to apply.
How to apply?
- Fill in the Gender Bender 2024 Application Form.
- Include relevant samples of your previous work (any three), and supporting material:
- A maximum of five photographs of previous work.
- Video link of previous work (optional) Upload all relevant materials to your Google Drive and send an editable link in the form. Please title the shared folder “Your Name - Application”. (If English is not your preferred language, please send an application in your language or write to us to explore other options.)
*Jury: An independent panel, comprising eminent individuals from various fields will shortlist the projects to be supported.
*Names of Jury members will only be disclosed after the selection process.