Serendipity Arts Foundation

Serendipity Arts Foundation is a not-for-profit arts and cultural development foundation based in Defence Colony, New Delhi, India. Founded in 2014 by Sunil Kant Munjal and directed by Smriti Rajgarhia, it supports emerging and established practitioners across visual arts, craft, music, dance, theatre, culinary arts, sound, and interdisciplinary practices through residencies, grants, festivals, and year-round programming.

At Serendipity Arts Foundation’s programming covers visual arts, craft, sound, installation, dance, theatre, music, and culinary arts, from the annual residency Open Studio in New Delhi to large-scale curated exhibitions at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. The Foundation connects Indian art practices with global contemporary discourse, ideal for New Delhi art exhibition seekers.

The Foundation’s Defence Colony space operates around scheduled programming, residencies, and public events rather than fixed museum hours. Check the official site at serendipityarts.org for the latest Serendipity Arts Foundation opening hours and event schedules in New Delhi.

Public events at Serendipity Arts Foundation, such as those relating to Open Studio and Delhi Art Week, are typically free, with RSVP available through the Foundation’s website. For the annual Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, entry is free across all venues during the December programme. Advance registration is advised for workshops and talks.

The Serendipity Arts Festival is India’s largest multidisciplinary arts festival, held annually each December across multiple venues in Panjim, Goa. Its previous editions featured exhibitions, performances, installations, workshops, culinary experiences, and curated talks. Entry to the festival is free for all, though some workshops and performances require advance registration due to limited capacity.

The Serendipity Arts Residency is a three-month immersive programme in New Delhi for emerging practitioners, now in its ninth edition (2026). Applications are submitted via an online form during the open call window—for 2026, this runs from 3 February to 3 March 2026. Applicants must submit a CV (max 2 pages), a 250-word bio, age proof, a project proposal (max 500 words), a 500-word essay on why they wish to attend, and a portfolio of up to five works. Applicants must be Indian citizens residing in India for at least two years, under 35 years of age, and must not have attended a residency in the past year.

Selected residents receive furnished accommodation in New Delhi, access to studio space, a monthly allowance of INR 12,000 for living expenses, and a production grant of INR 80,000 towards materials, tools, and technical support. The Foundation also provides curatorial advisory, networking with curators and gallery professionals, and support for publicity and outreach. The residency runs from May to August, culminating in a public Open Studio showcase.

Yes, Delhi-based applicants can apply, but all selected residents must stay in the accommodation provided by the Foundation for the full three months. Applicants with full-time jobs are not eligible, as the residency requires full-time commitment; freelancers may apply but must be present in the studio space for the entire duration. Pursuing any form of regular education during the residency is also not permitted.

The Serendipity Arles Grant is a major photography, video, and new media grant run in partnership with Les Rencontres d’Arles and supported by the French Institute in India. It is open to lens-based practitioners from South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). In the first phase, five shortlisted artists each receive INR 70,000 and showcase work at the Serendipity Arts Festival; the final winner receives an additional grant of approximately €15,000, production support, travel, and a solo show at Les Rencontres d’Arles in France.

Serendipity Arts Foundation is located at C-340, Basement, Chetna Marg, Block C, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024. The space hosts residency activities, the Open Studio showcase, library programming, and public events throughout the year.

Yes—the Foundation runs a range of public programmes including the Open Studio residency showcase each August, Delhi Art Week, the Text/Matters arts library, public art commissions such as Futures in Formation, and the Music Mapping Project documenting musicians’ practices across India. The annual Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa is free to attend and features performances, exhibitions, workshops, culinary programmes, and talks across the city of Panjim.

All open calls for residencies, grants, and other programmes are published on the Foundation’s official website at serendipityarts.org/open-calls, as well as on their Instagram (@serendipityartsfoundation) and Facebook pages. Signing up for the Foundation’s mailing list or following their social media channels is the best way to receive timely notifications about deadlines and new opportunities.