Raza-Students' Biennale Scholarship Winners Head to France
Two selected artists receive full funding for a semester of fine arts study at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Scholarships
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Rutuja Sonawane and Mohammad Riyaz have been selected for the Raza-Students' Biennale Scholarship. This award funds an international semester at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille for two participants from the 2025-26 Students' Biennale.
Why it matters
The program strengthens international artistic mobility by providing full funding for travel, living, and language preparation. It serves as a key component of a larger bilateral cultural exchange between India and France.
The scholarship covers travel, accommodation, and living expenses for a semester, alongside two months of online French-language classes. Recipients were selected from 183 participants in the latest Students' Biennale.
The players
French Institute in India
An agency that supports academic and cultural ties by providing travel and educational funding for student exchanges.
Beaux-Arts de Marseille
A French fine arts school that hosts international scholarship recipients for a semester of study.
Raza Foundation
A cultural organization that funds initiatives to support emerging artists and cross-cultural education.
Kochi Biennale Foundation
An arts organization that manages the Students' Biennale and facilitates student-artist residency programs.
The details
The program functions through a two-phase exchange facilitated by the French Institute in India, the Raza Foundation, and the Kochi Biennale Foundation. Awardees complete a structured semester abroad designed to integrate Indian artists into the French fine arts curriculum. This builds upon existing exchange efforts, including previous student residencies hosted in Kochi.
Timeline
December 1 to 15, 2025: French students Kaki Weiss and Nina Durel completed a residency in Kochi.
September 21, 2026: The scholarship semester began in Marseille.
January 29, 2027: The scholarship semester is scheduled to conclude.
Education Landscape
International exchange programs remain a primary mechanism for fostering artistic mobility and cross-cultural academic development. This scholarship reflects a deepening of the India-France bilateral cultural exchange framework.
Students pursuing fine arts should monitor the annual Students' Biennale cycle to identify future exchange opportunities. Interested artists can consult with their university international office or the French Institute in India to identify similar funding timelines.
The takeaway
International art residencies provide critical professional development through structured cultural exchange. Students should maintain an active portfolio and track the biennial event cycles of sponsoring foundations to ensure readiness for future application windows.
Further reading
For more opportunities to fund international arts education, visit our Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deccan Chronicle.
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