Bagri Foundation

The Bagri Foundation, a UK-based charitable trust established in 1990 by Lord Bagri CBE and led since 2015 by Dr Alka Bagri, champions curiosity, learning, excellence, integrity, and collaboration to advance understanding of Asia's arts, culture, and ideas. Evolving from education and relief work, it now focuses on high-quality programmes that weave traditional and contemporary Asian perspectives, challenging Western narratives, amplifying Asian voices, and fostering global knowledge-sharing through ambitious, thought-provoking projects.

It funds public-facing cultural activities centred on Asia and its diaspora, including artistic commissions, festivals, exhibitions, performances, film, music, literature, lectures, courses, cross-cultural research with outcomes, prizes, and scholarships. Support targets emerging and established practitioners, institutions, and collectives, with repeat backing for visual arts, performance, experimental music, art history research, and musician scholarships. Grantees include prestigious partners like the British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, South London Gallery, and festivals such as London Indian Film Festival.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs, exempt charities, or experienced creative collectives with strong track records; no income thresholds apply, though medium-to-large organisations predominate. Projects primarily in London/UK are prioritised, with European entities welcome and international ones by invitation. Grants range from £5,000–£150,000 (typically £10,000–£80,000, covering 10–40% of costs); requests over £75,000 need prior discussion. Unsolicited applications follow a two-stage process via Submittable: EOI (1–3 October 2025), then full proposal (by 17 November 2025), with decisions by January 2026; biannual rounds, next in March 2026.

It excludes core/unrestricted funding, research-only projects, individuals, and non-Asian-focused work, distinguishing itself through a high-engagement, co-creative partnership model that prioritises artistic merit, ambition, and stereotype-challenging impact.