Open Call for Artists | Science Gallery Bengaluru X Shared Ecologies
Science Gallery Bengaluru and Shared Ecologies-supported Shyama Foundation invite proposals from artists or collectives of Indian nationality for interactive, participatory, and experimental works that explore ecological concerns at the intersection of art, science, and research. The selected artist or collective will collaborate closely with Dr Meghna Krishnadas, an ecologist, chosen by the Science Gallery Bengaluru and Shared Ecologies teams, to develop an exhibit for public viewing. While the exhibition CALORIE opens in August 2025, the commissioned exhibit will be unveiled to the public in March 2026.
Timeline:
Call goes live: 9 May 2025 - 9 June 2025 [11:59 PM IST]
Results by: July 2025
Exhibit production: July 2025 - February 2026
Showcase: March 2026
WHAT MAKES A STRONG OPEN CALL PROPOSAL?
First and foremost, we prioritise works that help our audiences critically explore the processes of producing knowledge relevant to the topic of the current Open Call. The proposal should critically engage with themes of ecology, environment and the climate.
We strongly encourage you to take a moment to explore our archive of previous exhibitions to consider the Science Gallery Bengaluru ethos before committing your valuable time and energy to the application.
We invite proposals that may be completely physical, or are physical with a digital or online component.
WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE ACCEPTED?
Our approach is trans-disciplinary so we accept projects from highly diverse disciplines that could include art-works, video, performance, poetry, craft, sound, web-based work, socially engaged work, live experimentation, design, sharing of data from social science, medical, or natural science research – essentially we are not format-prescriptive!
WHAT TYPE OF DATA WILL I WORK WITH?
Artists will have access to a range of materials generated through ecological fieldwork and analysis—Excel sheets from field studies, observational field notes, digital images (including canopy scans, species documentation, and remote sensing), temperature and humidity data from digital loggers, experimental observations from greenhouse-grown plants, collections of soil and plant tissues, fungal cultures, and processed analytical outputs such as graphs, statistical models, and visual data representations. These materials offer multiple entry points for artists to explore, respond to, or work with ecological questions and patterns.
WHAT BUDGET IS AVAILABLE?
Projects supported via the Open Call for the exhibition can typically be funded by Bengaluru up to INR 4,50,000 (including all costs, materials, equipment, shipping, travel and taxes). In this, INR 4,00,000 is set aside for production fee and INR 50,000 is set aside as artist fees. The same artist fee will be provided, regardless of how many members are in the collective.
WHEN WILL I GET AN ANSWER?
Science Gallery Bengaluru and Shared Ecologies will notify applicants if their submission has been successful by July 2025. The gallery will be considering submissions during June-July 2025, so if questions about your project are identified we might contact you for clarification during this period.
WHAT IS THE NEXT STAGE?
If we think your work is exciting and relevant, we will start a conversation about your proposal with a view to establishing feasibility in July 2025.
ABOUT SCIENCE GALLERY BENGALURU
Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) is a not-for-profit public institution for research-based engagement targeted at young adults. We work at the interface between the human, natural and social sciences, engineering and the arts through a Public Lab Complex, ever-changing exhibitions, and mentorship programmes.
SGB is established with the founding support of the Government of Karnataka and three academic partners—Indian Institute of Science, National Centre for Biological Sciences, and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology. It is a member of the Global Science Gallery Network with sister galleries in Atlanta, Dublin, London, Melbourne and Monterrey.
ABOUT SHARED ECOLOGIES
Shared Ecologies is a program by the Shyama Foundation supporting initiatives at the intersection of art and ecology – through critical, creative, aesthetic approaches, and collaborations with various disciplines and knowledge systems. Through grants, programmes, and conversations, we aim to facilitate a regional and international ecology of individuals, practitioners and institutions, who share overlapping concerns, philosophies and methodologies.
ABOUT THE ECOLOGIST
As an ecologist, Meghna Krishnadas is curious about the mechanisms that maintain diversity in ecosystems. In a different life past, Meghna was a medical doctor, but she left the hospital halls to walk the forest trails. Her transition to ecology began with the realisation that biodiversity was being lost at alarming rates. Meghna went from activist to scientist because she felt that knowledge was essential to action, but she was also increasingly driven by intellectual curiosity about the complexity of life around us. When not thinking of science and conservation, she likes to run, practice yoga and try out new fitness regimens. Good books, great conversation, and gastronomy rank high in her life agenda and someday she would like to farm (at least some of) her own food.
Know more about Meghna's work here
Want to know more?
Please get in touch with programmes@bengaluru.sciencegallery.com in case of any queries.