A major new report has been published that offers arts and humanities researchers in the UK a chance to better understand the potential funding and collaborative opportunities available to them in India.

Commissioned and funded by RCUK on behalf of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) the report was undertaken by India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) in Bangalore and presents an overview of the arts and humanities research landscape in India through mapping the centres of excellence and funders. The report also highlights the strengths and challenges of Indian research in the arts and humanities.

In addition to studying over 30 centres of excellence in the report the current research and funding climate is also analysed.

The report presents:
• The challenges of definition with the term ‘arts and humanities’ and ‘social science’ in India and subsequently how this affects funding for research in these areas
• The strengths, current themes and challenges of arts and humanities (and in some cases social science) research in India
• The challenge of creating an accurate arts and humanities archive in India
• An overview of the Indian funding and research structures
• The challenge of funding fine and performing arts separately from traditional arts research disciplines
• A discussion on significant shifts in theory and approaches in some of the disciplines and this impact on the current research landscape
• A list of centres of excellence in arts and humanities research in India
• A list of centres with potential or those which are working in innovative research areas
• An outline of government, non-government and foreign funders.

A copy of the report can be downloaded from the RCUK India website.

The AHRC has already supported UK researchers on projects with some element of collaboration with Indian partners.  The most recent has been the signing, with the British Library, of a framework agreement to enable both parties to work together to identify research priorities in India and the UK and work jointly on projects that support research in this field.

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AHRC Media contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager, 01793 416021; j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk  

Notes to Editors:

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £112 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,300 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK. www.ahrc.ac.uk 

The RCUK Office in India was launched in October 2008 with an aim to bring about a step change in research partnerships between the two countries and make it easier for the best researchers in UK and India to develop high-quality, high impact research partnerships by:

• developing positive, sustainable and influential relationships with key stakeholders.
• supporting the facilitation of high quality research collaborations between India and the UK.
• building the profile of the RCUK office to influence policy and deliver valuable, high impact outputs