Delfina Foundation is part of a three-year collaboration between the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA), Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) and Goldsmiths College’s Department of Visual Cultures and the PhD. Program in Curatorial/Knowledge.  In 2013, SAHA joined the collaboration.


The Research Fellowship aims to provide an opportunity for intensive research in the field of visual arts by artists, curators and researchers who have an innovative visual culture project, and who might benefit from the research and curatorial work that is being done by the fellowship’s partner institutions in London.  Each year, one fellow from India, funded by FICA, and one from the Middle East & North Africa are selected via a competitive open call.

During the residency, the fellows have access to attend Goldsmith’s post-graduate courses and the Curatorial/Knowledge seminars in the Department of Visual Cultures. While with Iniva at Rivington Place, the fellows have access to the Stuart Hall Library and Archive.   Both institutions provide opportunities for mentoring and tutorials.

The fellows are also given opportunities to develop and engage in public programmes and other activities across all institutions.

2011 Fellows

Nida Ghouse (India) and Sarah Rifky (Egypt) were selected for first three-month fellowship conciding with the autumn term at Goldsmiths College.

At Delfina Foundation, Nida organized 14 Proper Nouns, a series of events around her research with the artist, musician and writer Hassan Khan, and Sarah presented The Eighth Congress: The Curious Case of Europe at the National Portrait Gallery with artist Vanessa Hodgkinson.

2012 Fellows

Nadia Christidi (Syria/Lebanon) and Anannya Mehtta (India) were selected for the second annual fellowship.

2013 Fellows

Srajana Kaikini was selected for the third annual fellowship, supported by FICA. SAHA also joined the collaboration this year, making it possible for Merve Ünsal from Turkey to participate in the fellowship.

2014 Fellows

Prajna Desai from India and Malak Helmy from Egypt were selected. Their residencies have been generously supported by FICA and Delfina Foundation’s family of supporters respectively.