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As an incubator for the future generation of leaders, the YLAC Artivist Fellowship is a unique leadership and advocacy program for high-school students who want to use creativity as a tool for social change. Through the fellowship, students explore pressing social issues, engage with communities, and design art-based campaigns that inspire dialogue, challenge assumptions, and mobilise action.

Whether through writing, visual arts, music, theatre, film, or digital media, art has the power to make complex issues accessible, spark reflection, and bring people together. The Artivist Fellowship combines the power of artistic expression with community engagement and advocacy to enable young people to become confident changemakers in their schools, communities, and beyond.

Building on the legacy of YLAC’s Counter Speech Fellowship (2017–2023) which engaged thousands of young changemakers across 60+ cities in India, the Artivist Fellowship offers a more immersive experience that moves from awareness to action. Fellows apply their ideas in the real world and showcase their work and impact through a final portfolio.

Applications to the 2026 edition of the fellowship are now open. This year, the fellowship will run as a fully virtual edition, with a break in sessions over the Diwali weekend. All high school students in grades 8th to 12th are eligible to apply.

Fellowship Themes for 2026

The 2026 fellowship will focus on three themes:

Climate Justice: Explore how climate change affects different communities unequally and understand the link between environmental action and social justice. Design campaigns that promote sustainable choices and advocate for fair solutions.

Disability Rights: Understand the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and explore ways to build more accessible and inclusive communities. Work on campaigns that promote dignity, equal opportunities, and meaningful participation for all.

Gender Justice: Examine how gender norms and stereotypes shape people’s experiences and opportunities. Create campaigns that encourage equality, respect, and inclusion across genders and sexualities.

Through a structured journey, the Artivist Fellows will move from understanding social issues to designing and implementing campaigns. These may include initiatives within their schools and local communities, as well as digital campaigns and social media interventions.

Fellowship Structure

Oct – Nov 2026

The Artivist Fellowship is scheduled to run from 10^th October to 22^nd November. The overall duration of the fellowship is six weeks and its schedule can be easily accommodated alongside regular school work and examinations. A break for the Diwali weekend has also been included.

The fellowship will be conducted entirely online via Zoom. On the opening and closing weekends, fellows will meet on both Saturday and Sunday. During the intervening weeks, sessions will be held only on Sundays. Mentorship sessions will take place on Wednesday or Thursday evenings, and fellows will be assigned a slot based on their chosen theme.

On average, fellows are expected to commit approximately 12–15 hours per week. This includes learning sessions, mentorship check-ins, team coordination, campaign implementation, and portfolio development.

You can see a sample portfolio here [SAMPLE PORTFOLIO]. For examples of other projects led by the previous fellows, see the Artivist fellowship’s Instagram handle here.

Schedule

Oct – Nov 2026 (Indian Standard Time)

Curtain Raiser | Leadership & Social Impact

Saturday & Sunday 10th & 11th Oct

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Sessions
– How can creative action lead to social change?
– Introduction to fellowship themes
– Leveraging the power of art for advocacy

Mentorship

Wed/Thur 14th/15th Oct

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Research & theme exploration

Community Engagement

Sunday 18th Oct

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Sessions
– Introduction to community engagement
– Design thinking for impactful campaigns

Mentorship

Wed/Thur 21st/22nd Oct

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Community mapping

The Science of Social Change

Sunday 25th Oct

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Sessions
– Case studies
– Defining impact
– Measuring outcomes

Mentorship

Wed/Thur 28th/29th Oct

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Review & implementation readiness

Community Action Lab

Sunday 1st Nov

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IST
Where: Your local community; Zoom

Sessions
– On-ground: interviews, activities, other planned efforts
– Touchpoint during the day with mentors

Mentorship

Wed/Thur 4th/5th Nov

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Leading through uncertainty: understanding leadership

Break for Diwali

Sunday 8th Nov

Mentorship

Wed/Thur 11th/12th Nov

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Collating outcomes & building your portfolio

From Change to Lasting Impact

Sunday 15th Nov

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Sessions
– Fellow journeys and personal transformation
– Ensuring sustainability of your campaigns
– Guest speaker

Mentorship

Wed/Thur 18th/19th Nov

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Final reflections & preparation for the closing weekend

Closing Ceremony | Reflections

Saturday & Sunday 21st & 22nd Nov

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IST
Where: Zoom

Sessions
– Presentations by the best performing teams
– Showcase for parents and overall reflections
– Performances

Pillars of the Fellowship

During the six-week-long fellowship, fellows will run interventions to generate momentum for change while focusing on the three core pillars of the fellowship: Awareness, Leadership, and Advocacy.

	Awareness Building awareness is the first step in any campaign. It starts with educating oneself, conversing with others and removing taboos. To this end, fellows will leverage both online and offline channels to engage with others and create content to build greater awareness on their theme.

	Leadership The fellowship themes are issues that many young people deal with on a daily basis. Addressing these challenges requires young people to step forward as leaders within their communities. As part of their work, fellows will develop online and offline interventions that encourage participation, build collective action, and empower others to contribute to change.

	Advocacy The fellowship is a powerful platform for teenagers to engage with key decision-makers, including community leaders, educators, and parents, to make their voices heard and champion issues they care about. Fellows will work in teams to design innovative solutions and build support to turn these ideas into action.

Selection Process & Deadlines

In our Artivist Fellows, we look for passionate, empathetic, creative and committed teen leaders who wish to build a more inclusive and just world. You do not need to be an artist to apply. Whether your strengths lie in art, storytelling, communications, campaigning, community engagement, research or advocacy, we encourage you to apply. The final evaluation of applications is based on responses to the questions in a short application form.

The selection process is based on a written application submitted through the website. In some cases, shortlisted candidates may also be asked to submit a short video response to support their application.

Please mark the following dates in your calendar:
Scholarships deadline: 26^th July (Sunday)
Final deadline: 23^rd August (Sunday)

Please note that candidates applying for scholarships must adhere to an earlier deadline. Both their program and scholarship applications should reach us on or before 26^th July 2026.

Fees & Scholarships

Fees
Rs. 15,000 (+ GST @18%)
To make the program self-sustaining, we charge a fee to cover the operating costs of the program. This fee is payable only after an applicant has been selected into the program.

Scholarships
We recognise that all deserving candidates may not have the means to fund their participation. To support such candidates, we are committed to offering need-based scholarships.

For the Artivist Fellowship, YLAC will offer scholarships worth 50% to 100% of the program fee to the selected candidates. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit an additional essay explaining how they plan to use the learning from the program and why they need a scholarship to attend. They must also submit a short letter of recommendation from a teacher at school.

You are requested to apply for the scholarship only if you need the financial support to attend. You may apply here.

Applications

Please submit your application along with the necessary documents through the form here. In addition to your report card, the application form will require details about your motivation, skill sets, and past experiences.

The final deadline to apply is 23^rd August, 2026. In case you have any questions, you may write to us at [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is this fellowship?

The Artivist Fellowship is an exceptional opportunity for creative teenagers to use their skills to help make the world a better place. The fellowship seeks to leverage the power of art and storytelling to give teenagers a platform to voice their opinions and advocate for changes in the society that they live in. The goal is to use art to generate awareness, build empathy and change mindsets to create a world that is inclusive and kind.

2. Why has it been instituted?

Amidst the boundless potential of art and the resounding voice of youth, this fellowship emerges as a catalyst for transformative change. We believe in the power of art to shape narratives and kindle movements. By equipping young individuals with the tools to harness their creative skills, we aim to raise awareness on critical issues and reach a wider audience, fostering a world that celebrates diversity, supports marginalised communities and amplifies the voices that need to be heard the most.

3. What outputs do I work on during the fellowship?

During the fellowship, fellows work in teams to explore a social issue, engage directly with communities, and design and lead a campaign or intervention. Supported by mentors throughout the process, they develop leadership, teamwork, and change-making skills while turning ideas into action. The fellowship culminates in a portfolio that captures their journey, learning, and the impact they created.

4. Am I eligible to apply?

If you are studying in a school in grades 8th-12th, or are being home-schooled, and are between 13 to 18 years of age, you are eligible to apply. Students who are 18 years of age but have already completed school are not eligible.

5. What are the selection criteria?

In our Artivist Fellows, we look for passionate, empathetic, creative and committed teen leaders who want to build a more inclusive and just world. While creativity is an important part of the fellowship, you do not need to identify as an artist to apply. Whether your strengths lie in storytelling, communications, campaigning, community engagement, research, advocacy, problem-solving, or creative expression, we encourage you to apply. The final evaluation of applications is based on responses to questions in a short application form.

6. How many fellows are selected?

The fellowship is designed to be extremely selective, with admit rates between 20-25%. We usually select 25-40 fellows for each cohort and we will be running multiple cohorts online.

7. How long is the fellowship?

The fellowship is a six week commitment. After the fellowship launch, fellows meet every week for a couple of hours for skilling and mentorship sessions. Applicants are advised to refer to the detailed calendar here.

8. How much time will I commit?

On average, a student is expected to commit about 12-15 hours per week. This includes the online/offline workshop sessions and mentorship check-ins, as well as time spent in curating and implementing the campaign for the allocated theme.

9. Do I take leave from school?

No, there is no need for you to take leave from school. All workshop/ mentorship sessions are scheduled either on weekends or late in the evening on weekdays.

10. Do I have to pay a fee?

The Artivist Fellowship is a paid program, requiring selected participants to pay a fee of INR 15,000 (+ GST @18%). This fee is instrumental in building a self-sustaining program and covering necessary expenses.

Having said that, we recognize that all deserving candidates may not have the means to fund their participation in the program. To support such candidates, YLAC is committed to offering need-based scholarships.

11. Is there an orientation?

The YLAC team conducts a training and orientation session for the fellows on the first day of the fellowship. This session has been designed to give the fellows an overview of what the Artivist Fellowship has in store for them. The session is also meant to help them understand how they can contribute and what their roles and responsibilities are during and after the fellowship.

12. Who facilitates the sessions?

The sessions are facilitated by the YLAC team. During the course of the fellowship, a number of external speakers, influencers, policy makers and other guests are also invited to conduct specific sessions with the fellows. They engage and interact with the fellows on the identified issues and themes.

13. Do I get a certificate?

Yes, fellows are given a certificate of completion at the end of the fellowship and those who demonstrate leadership and curate successful campaigns are duly recognized.

14. Is attendance compulsory?

Yes, attendance at the sessions is mandatory. Since fellows are required to work in groups, the absence of any fellow is a disadvantage to their team. Please check the schedule carefully to ensure your availability. Feel free to write to us at office(at)theylacproject.com in case you have any queries.

15. Will this clash with my plans for Diwali?

No it wouldn't! There are no sessions between 5th November and 10th November. So, you can enjoy the festivities without worry!

16. What is the refund policy?

In case any unforeseen circumstances prevent you from joining the program, you can request our office to initiate the refund process. YLAC will refund 100% of your payment if the request is received 30 days before the beginning of the program. For requests received 15 days before the program, the refund amount shall be 50% of the payment received. YLAC shall not be able to issue any refunds in case the intimation reaches us at a shorter notice.