Supported by the India Art Fair Young Collectors’ Programme and Triveni Kala Sangam, in partnership with Burgoyne Original Masters, this open call invites artists to submit proposals for a temporary site-specific public sculpture to be installed in the Triveni Concave, situated in the front lawns of the building’s iconic façade in New Delhi.

This year’s commission invites artists to respond to the theme Collective Commons: an exploration of the spaces, relationships and systems we collectively shape and share.

As our cities, communities and environments continue to evolve, public spaces become places not only of gathering, but of imagination. Collective Commons invites artists to ask how art can help us envision new ways of living together, exploring ideas of coexistence, collective care, material innovation, regeneration, cultural continuity and our evolving relationship with the natural and built world.

We welcome ambitious proposals that spark dialogue, invite participation or offer new perspectives on the futures we are creating together. Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme freely, responding through material, process, form or concept.

Thoughtful consideration of materiality and making is encouraged. Artists may choose to work with reclaimed, renewable or innovative materials, or explore questions of sustainability through the ideas their work presents. Sustainability is welcomed as one possible interpretation of the theme, but is not a requirement.

This commission offers a unique opportunity to create a temporary installation for one of India’s most celebrated cultural institutions. Set within the modernist campus designed by Joseph Allen Stein, the selected sculpture will engage with the site’s distinctive architecture, landscape, and public environment, welcoming visitors to Triveni Kala Sangam throughout the India Art Fair Young Collectors’ Programme Hub from 30 January – 7 February 2027.

We invite proposals that are ambitious, imaginative, and thoughtfully respond to the relationship between sculpture, architecture, and public space. The selected work should create a compelling visual and spatial experience while remaining technically suitable for an outdoor installation.

Who Can Apply

The open call is open to artists, sculptors, designers, architects, and interdisciplinary practitioners aged 18 years and above and based in India. Individual artists and collectives are welcome to apply. This is primarily for emerging artists and collectives and will involve a modest production and transportation fee. 

What You’ll Need to Submit

Applicants should complete the designated form with:

• Artist CV
• Short biography
• Portfolio of previous work
• Concept proposal for the sculpture (written + visual proposal)
• Preliminary sketch, rendering, or visualisation of the proposed work
• A detailed budget

Installation Site & Specifications

The selected sculpture will be installed at the entrance lawn of Triveni Kala Sangam, within the Triveni Concave, for the duration of India Art Fair Young Collectors’ Programme Week.

• Installation site: Approximately 42 ft × 12.5 ft
• Water depth: 1.7 ft
• Maximum sculpture height: 14 ft
• Maximum weight: 100 kg
• Installation period: 30 January – 7 February 2027

Site Reference

* Applicants are encouraged to review the site image here to construct their proposal