New Delhi, Mar 10
The Ministry of Culture is offering financial support to young artists through the ‘Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA)’ scheme. This initiative helps talented individuals pursue advanced training in fields like classical dance, traditional art, music, theatre, and other cultural disciplines. Under this scheme, selected scholars receive a scholarship of ₹5,000 per month for two years, paid in four equal six-monthly installments.
To be eligible, applicants must be between 18 to 25 years old and should have undergone at least five years of training under a recognized Guru or Institution. The selection process involves a personal interview and performance evaluation conducted by an Expert Committee appointed by the Ministry.
Over the years, the government has allocated significant funds to support this program. The budget for the scholarship has increased, with ₹12.30 crore allocated in 2019-20, reaching ₹23.68 crore in 2022-23, before slightly decreasing to ₹16.22 crore in 2023-24. The State-wise distribution of selected scholars and utilized funds is detailed in Annexures I & II.
The scholarship covers various cultural fields, including Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance & Dance Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Light Classical Music, and Folk, Traditional & Indigenous Arts. This scheme is a part of the larger ‘Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture’ program. In recent years, West Bengal has emerged as one of the states receiving the highest support under this initiative.
This information was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in Lok Sabha.
(Source: PIB)
