By Chahat Sharma

In an age where creativity constantly evolves, some stories remain timeless. They are woven through memory, culture and craft. Masters in Making, a landmark grant initiative by Burgoyne Original Masters (BOM) in collaboration with Art Culture Festival India (ACF), emerges as a platform dedicated to discovering and nurturing the next generation of artists, artisans, craftspeople and collectives working with textiles.

This initiative is more than an open call, it is a cultural movement that places heritage, innovation and artistic expression at the centre of contemporary practice.

Where Heritage Meets Contemporary Expression

The first edition of the grant introduces a compelling and deeply relevant theme:

Threads of Continuum: Reweaving the Future of Heritage

At its core, this theme invites applicants to look at textiles as living narratives, as carriers of identity, memory and time.

From traditional weaving and embroidery to experimental installations and conceptual works, artists are encouraged to reinterpret India’s textile traditions through a contemporary lens. The focus is not just preservation, but transformation. The grant aims to bridge the past with the future through innovative artistic practices.

This is a space where heirloom fabrics, forgotten techniques and personal histories can be reimagined into bold, new visual languages.

The Grant: Opportunity, Visibility and Growth

While the grant includes a generous financial component, its true strength lies in the long-term opportunities it unlocks for artists.

From all the entries, the jury will shortlist the 15 applications. Out of these, five artists will be selected as award recipients, with grants distributed as follows:

First Prize: ₹2,00,000

Second Prize (2 recipients): ₹1,00,000 each

Third Prize (2 recipients): ₹50,000 each

In addition to the cash awards, all five winners will receive promotional support across ACF’s and Burgoyne Original Masters’ digital platforms, including Website, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, accompanied by visibility through printed marketing materials.

The remaining ten shortlisted participants will receive a Participation Certificate, a trophy along with a feature by BOM & ACF on their social media channels or through printed marketing material.

From Shortlist to Showcase: The Final Exhibition

The journey culminates in a curated exhibition in Delhi, where the top 15 shortlisted winners will present their work. They will present their work in the final exhibition, curated by Sreyansi Singh, Fashion Curator & Cultural Researcher and will be hosted in New Delhi. The exhibition will be accompanied by an Opening Event for which media will be invited, ensuring that participating artists receive meaningful press exposure and public visibility.

Exhibition Title: Continuum: The Living Thread

This exhibition offers:

• A professionally curated gallery experience.
• An opening event attended by media and cultural stakeholders.
• Opportunities for artists to engage with collectors, institutions and wider audiences.

It transforms the grant from a competition into a public platform for artistic dialogue and recognition.

About the Organisers

Burgoyne Original Masters

Burgoyne Original Masters (BOM) is a cultural initiative dedicated to shaping conversations around craft, legacy and contemporary creative expression. Rooted in the century-old heritage of WFB Baird & Co., the platform extends a philosophy of excellence, patience and integrity beyond textiles into a wider cultural landscape.

Blending archival depth with a contemporary lens, BOM creates a space where stories unfold through artist-led narratives, collaborations and thoughtfully curated projects that bring together practitioners across art, craft, music, design and culture. It engages both emerging voices and established masters, presenting craft as a lived, evolving practice shaped by time, process and personal commitment.

As a growing cultural platform, BOM moves beyond documentation to foster dialogue that spotlight ideas, practices and individuals that define today’s creative ecosystem.

Art Culture Festival (ACF)

Art Culture Festival India is a digital magazine and cultural platform dedicated to shaping conversations around art, culture and creative expression. Blending editorial depth with a contemporary voice, it serves as a space where stories unfold through artist interviews, festival
coverage and thoughtful features that engage both emerging audiences and seasoned connoisseurs.

As a growing voice within the cultural landscape, ACF goes beyond documentation to create dialogue, spotlighting ideas, practices and people that define today’s creative ecosystem. With a dynamic presence across its website, Instagram, LinkedIn and Spotify, the platform brings together visual, written and audio storytelling, building a connected, immersive experience of culture in motion.

A Jury That Shapes the Future of Master in Making

The grant is guided by an exceptional panel of experts who bring together practice, research and curatorial insight:

• Hema Shroff Patel – Textile designer and founder of Amba, known for reviving Maheshwari handloom traditions
• Dr. Madan Meena – Visual artist and scholar of indigenous and tribal art practices
• Dr. Vandana Bhandari – Renowned textile historian and academic
• Sreyansi Singh – Fashion curator exploring textiles as cultural archives

Their combined expertise ensures that each submission is evaluated with depth, context and a strong understanding of both tradition and innovation.

Why Apply: A Platform That Goes Beyond Funding

While financial support is valuable, Masters in Making offers something far more significant:

1. National and Digital Visibility

Get featured across leading cultural platforms, reaching a wide and relevant audience.

2. Curated Recognition

Be evaluated by experts who understand both craft traditions and contemporary art practices.

3. Exhibition Opportunity

Showcase your work in a professionally curated exhibition in Delhi.

4. Network and Collaboration

Become part of a growing community of artists, curators and cultural practitioners.

5. Long-Term Artistic Growth

Position your practice within a larger cultural and artistic discourse.

At its heart, this grant is about recognition, relevance and artistic evolution.

Who Should Apply?

This grant is open to artists, artisans, craftspeople and collectives who work with textiles as a medium of expression.

Whether your practice involves:

• Traditional craft techniques
• Experimental textile installations
• Sustainable and upcycled materials
• Collaborations with artisan communities

If your work reflects a dialogue between heritage and contemporary thought, this platform is designed for you.

Masters in Making is a call to rethink how we engage with tradition.

It believes that: Heritage is dynamic, craft is innovative and creators are the bridge between past and future. 

This is your opportunity to contribute to a larger cultural narrative.

Apply now. Reimagine the thread. Become a Master in the Making.

To apply, participants are required to carefully review the terms and conditions outlined on the official Burgoyne Original Masters website. Submission of the application form through the website is mandatory, and entries will only be considered once the process is fully completed.

The application window opens on 5th April and remains active until 5th June, marking the final deadline for all submissions.

Apply here: https://burgoyneoriginalmasters.com/masters-in-making/