Good News
A Delhi fellowship pays rural performers a stipend to learn theatre
Bargad's six-month programme pays ₹10,000 a month, rising to ₹15,000 from January 2027, funded by individual donors.
In short
₹15,000monthly stipend from January 2027
- Duration: 6 months
- First cohort: 14 fellows
- Donors: ~20–25, ₹5,000–₹5 lakh
The fellowship
Bargad runs a six-month theatre fellowship in Delhi, with classes from 4 pm to 8:30 pm six days a week and visiting faculty from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai. The first cohort had 14 fellows, and the stipend was ₹10,000 a month for the first two cohorts and rises to ₹15,000 for the third, starting January 2027.
Who pays
About 20 to 25 individual donors have given between ₹5,000 and ₹5 lakh each over two years. The founders say they now want longer-term partners to keep it going. One participant said it was the first time he was paid to do theatre.
Read the original reporting
The Better India↗
