Students Biennale Awards French Residency Scholarships
Artists Rutuja Sonawane and Mohammad Riyaz will study at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille through a new exchange program.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Scholarships
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Rutuja Sonawane and Mohammad Riyaz have been awarded the Raza-Students' Biennale Scholarship. The recipients will complete a semester of study in Marseille, France, starting September 21, 2026.
Why it matters
The program seeks to foster artistic mobility and strengthen cultural ties between India and France through an academic exchange. It provides funding for tuition, travel, and living expenses, while also offering intensive language training.
The scholarship funds a semester abroad for two winners chosen from 183 initial participants. The French Institute in India covers travel, housing, and two months of online language instruction.
The players
Rutuja Sonawane
One of two artists selected for the Raza-Students' Biennale Scholarship to study in France.
Mohammad Riyaz
One of two artists selected for the Raza-Students' Biennale Scholarship to study in France.
French Institute in India
The organization providing funding for travel, accommodation, and language classes for the scholarship.
Raza Foundation
A cultural foundation that supports the scholarship program to promote artistic exchange.
Kochi Biennale Foundation
The institution that hosts the Students' Biennale and co-organizes the international residency exchange.
The details
Supported by the French Institute in India, the Raza Foundation, and the Kochi Biennale Foundation, the program facilitates a two-phase exchange. Selected artists study at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille after undergoing a rigorous selection process by a jury of four experts.
Timeline
December 1-15, 2025: French students Kaki Weiss and Nina Durel participated in a residency in Kochi.
December 12, 2025: The 6th edition of the Student Biennale commenced.
September 21, 2026: The scholarship semester at Beaux-Arts de Marseille begins.
January 29, 2027: The scholarship semester at Beaux-Arts de Marseille concludes.
Culture Shift
This program reflects a broader trend of institutionalized arts exchanges that bypass traditional market routes to foster international dialogue. It demonstrates a shift toward collaborative residency models that integrate language training with artistic practice.
For aspiring artists, this scholarship offers a roadmap for utilizing international exchange programs to broaden their professional networks. Students can leverage these funding models to minimize the financial barriers associated with studying art abroad.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights how cross-cultural residencies are becoming an essential component of the contemporary arts education landscape. Aspiring artists should monitor similar foundation-led initiatives that combine academic coursework with immersive language study.
Further reading
Learn more about emerging opportunities in the arts by visiting our Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deccan Chronicle.
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