Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd., announced the names of 25 shortlisted artists under the 2021 Art for Hope program. These 25 artists belong to diverse fields such as Digital Art, Crafts, Multi-Disciplinary Art, Performance Arts and Visual Arts. Each winner will be awarded a grant of INR 1 lakh which will be used for commissioning community art projects bearing the themes of Hope, Solidarity and Gratitude.
HMIF received a total of 163 applications from 17 states, in 5 categories. Out of these, 50 artists were shortlisted and after three rounds of evaluation, the jury arrived on the final list of 25 winners.
Commenting on the announcement of artists winning the grant, Mr. SS Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “The Art for Hope program is a one-of-its kind project taken up by the Hyundai Motor India Foundation. Inspired by Hyundai’s global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’, the Art for Hope program aims to showcase India’s rich heritage in art, craft and culture and help elevate the lives of artisans and craftspeople who were affected by the pandemic. We congratulate all the 25 winners who have come a long way, winning the 2021 Art for Hope program and we hope that the grant will help them in further strengthening and popularizing their art form.”
Art for Hope was conceptualized to promote art as an agent of change that inspires positivity, happiness and documents the journey of ‘progress for humanity’. Shortlisted artists will be presented with an opportunity to exchange ideas along with executing art projects. The winners’ art pieces and performances will also be displayed for community viewing across India and will be a testament to India’s rich and storied heritage of arts, craft and culture.
The ‘Art for Hope’ program has a panel of expert jurors from different art domains – Dr. Rathi Jafer, Director of Inko Centre (Chennai), Mr. Riyas Komu, a critically acclaimed multimedia artist along with being the curator and the co-founder of the Kochi Muziris Biennale in India along with Ms. Priya Pall, a popular museum and arts consultant, former Curatorial Director of Bikaner House, Delhi and a consultant to various popular museums across the country. The eminent jury will act as mentors to the winners as well.