Entries open for Culinary Lab Fellowship Program (India)

The Culinary Lab Fellowship 2026 invites young researchers, storytellers, artists, and cultural practitioners from the Eastern and Western Himalaya to document and explore Himalayan food cultures through a gendered and feminist lens. The fellowship supports creative and research-based projects that examine the connections between food, identity, ecology, labour, memory, migration, and community.

Five selected fellows will each receive a grant of INR 100,000 and participate in a three-day residential Culinary Lab in Theog, Himachal Pradesh, where they will work with mentors, local food practitioners, and fellow researchers.

Overview of the Culinary Lab Fellowship

The Culinary Lab Fellowship is designed to encourage research, documentation, storytelling, and creative practice focused on the diverse food cultures of the Himalayan region.

The fellowship views food as more than nourishment—it is a way to understand the relationships between people, place, ecology, memory, labour, identity, migration, care, and belonging. Through a gender-sensitive and feminist approach, the programme seeks to highlight voices, traditions, and knowledge systems that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

The fellowship will support the creation of a growing archive that documents the rich culinary heritage and cultural diversity of the Eastern and Western Himalaya.

Objectives of the Fellowship

The fellowship aims to:

Document and preserve Himalayan food cultures.
Promote research through feminist and gender-sensitive perspectives.
Encourage community-based storytelling and creative documentation.
Highlight Indigenous knowledge and local food traditions.
Support emerging researchers and cultural practitioners.
Strengthen conversations around food, ecology, identity, and sustainable development.
Build a long-term archive of Himalayan culinary heritage.

Fellowship Themes

Applicants are encouraged to interpret the fellowship theme creatively through research, storytelling, visual arts, writing, documentation, or other interdisciplinary approaches.

Suggested themes include:

Food Memories and Oral Histories

Projects may document:

Family food traditions
Community memories
Oral narratives
Recipes passed through generations

Indigenous Food Systems

Research may explore:

Traditional farming practices
Indigenous food knowledge
Local ingredients
Sustainable food systems

Food, Language and Identity

Projects can examine:

Food vocabulary
Cultural identity
Linguistic heritage
Regional culinary traditions

Biodiversity and Climate Change

Possible topics include:

Climate impacts on food systems
Biodiversity conservation
Traditional ecological knowledge
Sustainable agriculture

Festivals and Rituals

Applicants may explore:

Food traditions during festivals
Ritual practices
Seasonal celebrations
Community feasts

Borderland Food Cultures

Projects may investigate:

Cross-border culinary traditions
Shared food heritage
Migration and food practices
Cultural exchange

Urban Migration and Food

Possible areas include:

Changing food habits
Migration experiences
Urban adaptation
Culinary identity

Community Kitchens and Local Food Economies

Research may focus on:

Collective cooking practices
Women’s labour
Local food enterprises
Community food networks

Intergenerational Knowledge

Projects can document:

Knowledge transfer
Traditional recipes
Women’s food knowledge
Community learning

Fellowship Support

The programme will support:

Research
Documentation
Creative practice
Storytelling
Community-based projects

A total of five fellows will be selected.

Residential Culinary Lab

Selected fellows will participate in a three-day residential Culinary Lab in:

Theog, Himachal Pradesh

During the residency, fellows will:

Work with experienced mentors
Learn from resource persons
Engage with local food practitioners
Exchange ideas with fellow participants
Refine and strengthen their fellowship projects

The workshop is scheduled for early to mid-October 2026.

Fellowship Grant

Each selected fellow will receive:

INR 100,000

Applicable taxes may apply.

Grant Disbursement

The fellowship grant will be released in three instalments:

25% upon signing the fellowship agreement
25% after submission of the second draft and participation in the review meeting
50% upon successful completion of the fellowship and submission of the final project

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

Be 20 to 35 years of age
Belong to the Eastern or Western Himalaya
Demonstrate interest or experience in food, gender, culture, or sustainable development
Commit to producing a substantial research or creative output
Be available to attend the residential workshop in Theog during October 2026

Preference will be given to applicants who are:

Based within their local communities
Actively engaged in community work

Eligible Regions

Eastern Himalaya

Applicants may come from:

Darjeeling
Kalimpong
Kurseong
Sikkim

Western Himalaya

Applicants may come from:

Himachal Pradesh
Uttarakhand
Jammu & Kashmir
Ladakh

Ineligible Projects

The fellowship does not support:

Projects that form part of ongoing PhD theses
Projects recently completed as part of a PhD

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure you:

Meet the age requirement
Belong to an eligible Himalayan region
Can attend the residential workshop
Have a suitable project idea

Step 2: Develop a Fellowship Proposal

Prepare a proposal that explains:

Your research or creative idea
Objectives
Community relevance
Expected outcomes
Methodology

Step 3: Demonstrate Experience and Interest

Highlight your:

Work related to food, culture, gender, or sustainability
Community engagement
Creative or research experience

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Documents

Include all required documents according to the fellowship guidelines.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Complete and submit the fellowship application before the official deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

Present an original and community-rooted idea.
Demonstrate meaningful engagement with local communities.
Clearly explain the gender or feminist perspective.
Show how the project contributes to preserving Himalayan food cultures.
Include a realistic work plan and expected outcomes.
Highlight the long-term value of the project.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting projects unrelated to Himalayan food cultures.
Proposing work based solely on academic theory without community engagement.
Applying with ongoing or recently completed PhD research.
Ignoring the fellowship themes.
Submitting incomplete applications.
Failing to demonstrate commitment to completing the fellowship.

Why This Fellowship Matters

The Culinary Lab Fellowship helps preserve the rich culinary heritage of the Himalaya while supporting emerging researchers and cultural practitioners.

The fellowship contributes to:

Documentation of Indigenous knowledge
Preservation of food traditions
Gender-inclusive cultural research
Community storytelling
Sustainable development
Regional cultural archives
Recognition of underrepresented voices

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Culinary Lab Fellowship?

It is a fellowship supporting young researchers and cultural practitioners documenting Himalayan food cultures through a gendered and feminist perspective.

How many fellows will be selected?

The programme will select five fellows.

How much funding is provided?

Each fellow will receive INR 100,000, subject to applicable taxes.

Who can apply?

Applicants aged 20–35 years from eligible regions of the Eastern or Western Himalaya may apply.

Which regions are eligible?

Eligible regions include Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Is participation in the residential workshop mandatory?

Yes. Selected fellows must attend the three-day residential Culinary Lab in Theog, Himachal Pradesh, scheduled for early to mid-October 2026.

Are PhD projects eligible?

No. Projects that are part of ongoing or recently completed PhD theses are not eligible.

Conclusion

The Culinary Lab Fellowship 2026 offers a unique opportunity for young researchers, artists, and cultural practitioners to document and celebrate the diverse food cultures of the Himalaya through innovative research and creative storytelling.

With a grant of INR 100,000, mentorship from experts, and participation in a residential learning experience in Theog, Himachal Pradesh, the fellowship supports meaningful work that preserves cultural heritage while exploring the intersections of food, gender, ecology, memory, and identity.