The French Institute in India and the French Embassy in India announce the launch of the third edition of the Villa Swagatam cross-residency programme, which brings together around thirty partners across France, India, Bangladesh and as of 2025, Sri Lanka. In South Asia, the focus is on two key themes of bilateral cooperation: literature and arts and crafts. In 2025, a residency for translators has also been introduced.
The new call is open to French and Indian applicants who wish to join one of the network’s residencies in 2025–2026. Applications are open until Monday, 2 June 2025, at midnight (CEST).
Launched in March 2023 during the visit of French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna to New Delhi, highlighted the roadmap adopted for the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership in July 2023. The programme has already supported around 50 residents in just two years, offering residencies ranging from one to three months. “Villa Swagatam reflects a shared desire to strengthen human exchange between our countries in a meaningful and sustained manner. The French Embassy in India acts as a catalyst to foster the emergence of new creative dialogues and to deepen mutual appreciation of our respective cultures,” said Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India.
The Villa Swagatam call for applications is open to any French or Indian national (regardless of current country of residence), as well as any applicant who has lived in France or India for over five years (regardless of nationality). The selection process is conducted by the French Institute in India in close collaboration with each partner, in order to identify the candidate best suited to the objectives of the residency.
The French Institute in India covers international flights, visa fee reimbursements and a monthly allowance to support residents with daily living expenses. The residency, which lasts between 1 and 3 months, provides accommodation, a workspace, and production support. Thanks to its extensive network, the French Institute in India also facilitates connections between residents and major cultural institutions in the specific countries, thereby encouraging enriching exchanges during and after the residency. Residents dedicate part of their time to outreach activities, which may include open workshops, school visits, or participation in literary festivals and art fairs.
The programme is supported by the Institut français.
An overview of the origins and philosophy of the programme
Villa Swagatam aims to create a community of artists and writers who will become key players in renewing the cultural dialogue between France, India and South Asia, in the spirit of renowned cultural figures such as painter S.H. Raza, Nobel Prize-winning writer Rabindranath Tagore, screenwriter and author Jean-Claude Carrière, or theatre director Ariane Mnouchkine. The project also reflects the commitment of the French Institute in India to both cultural and environmental sustainability, favouring longer-term residencies.
This initiative stands alongside other prestigious French programmes that seek to build international networks of artistic residencies, such as Villa Albertine in the United States, Villa Kujoyama in Japan, Casa de Velázquez in Spain, as well as Villa Medici and Le Grand Tour in Italy. Two features distinguish Villa Swagatam: firstly, a commitment to reciprocity, with Indian laureates hosted in France under the same terms since 2024; secondly, the programme relies on a network of local partner residencies for the selection and support of residents, thereby ensuring greater visibility for the programme thanks to the involvement of a wide range of contributors.
A network of French, Indian and regional partners (Bangladesh and Sri Lanka)
Since its inception, Villa Swagatam has carefully onboarded partners for their deep roots in specific cultural contexts and their ability to represent regional cultures in innovative ways. The choice of partners — which includes both established residency spaces and those launched through the initiative, as well as workshops, publishing houses, and private foundations — reflects the diversity and vitality of the existing creative ecosystem.
Villa Swagatam is further enriched by an exceptional network of French partners that have been welcoming Indian writers and creators since September 2024. These French institutions were selected for their excellence and recognition in their respective fields, as well as their strong commitment to international exchange.
In South Asia, the focus is on the following sectors:
Literature:
- Alice Boner Institute(Varanasi) – literature
- Eklavya Foundation(Bhopal) – children’s literature
- Himalayan Writing Residency(Sathkol) – literature
- MAD Salon+Lab(Bangalore) – graphic novels and comics
- Rachna Books(Gangtok) – literature / graphic novels
- Sangam House(Bangalore) – literature
- Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts(Angoulême and Goa) – graphic novels and comics
- Tara Books (Auroville) – children’s literature
- Vagamon Writers Residency(Vagamon) – literature
- Lakmahal Library(Colombo) – literature
Arts and Crafts:
- Brihatta Art Foundation (Dhaka) – arts and crafts
- Hampi Art Labs(Hampi) – arts and crafts
- Jaipur Rugs (Jaipur) – hand-weaving
- Kalhath Institute(Lucknow) – embroidery
- Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust(Faridabad) – puppetry
- Khoj International Residency(New Delhi) – design, technology, curatorial research, visual arts
- Nila House(Jaipur) – textile and indigo
- Public Arts Trust of India(Jodhpur) – arts and crafts
- Serendipity Arts(New Delhi) – visual arts
- Vastrakala (Chennai) – embroidery
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale(Kochi) – visual arts
In France, there are ten partner residencies open to all types of artistic and literary profiles:
- Centre National de la Danse(Pantin) – contemporary dance
- La Maison de la Poésie de Nantes(Nantes) – poetry
- La Maison des auteurs – Cité Internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l’Image(Angoulême and Goa) – graphic novels and comics
- La Maison Julien Gracq(Saint-Florent-Le-Vieil) – literature
- La Marelle(La Ciotat) – literature & hybrid writing practices
- La Napoule Art Foundation(Château de La Napoule) – literature, visual arts, performing arts
- Art Scribes Award x Prameya Art Foundation(Château de La Napoule) – critical writing and curatorial practice
- La Villa Gillet(Lyon) – literature
- Manufactures Nationales (Paris et Sèvres) – arts and crafts
- Le Chalet Mauriac(Saint-Symphorien) – translation
