The V&A is pleased to announce the launch of The Karun Thakar Fund, a new fund supporting the study of Asian and African textiles and dress.
The Fund is presented by Karun Thakar in collaboration with the V&A. Its aim is to enrich the fields of Asian and African textiles and dress by supporting new and original approaches to study and practice, foregrounding fresh perspectives and ground-breaking research.
The V&A holds one of the largest museum collections of Asian textiles and dress in the world, and the extensive private collections of Karun Thakar span the textiles and dress of both Asia and Africa. Using both collections as points of departure, the fund promotes materials-based, object-led learning and encourages meaningful and innovative approaches to Asian and African textile and dress studies.
From July 2021, The Karun Thakar Fund will offer scholarships to student practitioners and researchers studying any aspect of Asian or African textile/dress design or history. One-time awards of up to £10,000 are available for use towards tuition fees, materials, or maintenance costs. University students at BA, MA or PhD level attending any accredited university either in the UK or internationally are welcome to apply. Awardees’ work will be shared here, creating a platform for international conversation and knowledge exchange.
Find out more about eligibility, how to apply and selection process.
In future years the fund will offer additional awards of up to £10,000 in the form of project grants supporting Asian and African textiles/fashion-based research projects, art and design practices, exhibitions, conferences, travel, publications, image licensing and more. Eligibility and application guidance for the project grants coming soon.
