Artist in Residence
Program

Yes — that’s exactly why we exist. Many of our artists came in unsure, dependent, anxious — and left with confidence and income. We don’t expect independence on Day One. We build it gently, through rhythm, routine, co-regulation, and skill-building. This isn’t a test. It’s a place to begin again, with full support.

Speech is not a measure of talent — or potential. Some of our most brilliant artists are non-verbal or selectively mute. We communicate through color, clay, gesture, tech — whatever works. Connection happens here without pressure. Friendships form not through small talk, but shared space and shared strokes of a brush.

If they’re drawing, they’re already speaking. Doodling isn’t “just scribbles” — it’s self-regulation, expression, and creative instinct. We’ve seen stick figures turn into breathtaking canvases. All we do is build skill on top of passion. What you’re calling doodles? We see the beginning of a voice.

Because talent is the seed — and this is the soil. Even gifted artists need structure, feedback, confidence, and support. Here, they’ll learn how to ideate, explore new media, work with various projects, collaborate, and evolve as professionals. Think of it as moving from “just drawing” to building a life in art — and doing it with peers who understand.

Yes — because this program builds on a foundation. The AIR program is for artists who already have a basic grasp of art-making — form, composition, colour, and a sense of visual storytelling. A portfolio helps us understand where your child is on their journey. It doesn’t have to be perfect or polished — just honest. We’re not looking for a finished product. We’re looking for readiness to go deeper, refine skills, and step into the world of professional practice. If they have the basics — we’ll help them fly.

We don’t do labels like “high” or “low” — we do potential. This program is for any neurodivergent teens or young adults who show interest in art and are ready for structured, supportive training. Whether they’re verbal or non-verbal, have co-occurring conditions, or need 1:1 support — if the desire to create is there, we start from there.

It teaches art — and the heartbeat behind it. Yes, your child will learn advanced techniques. But they’ll also learn how to show up in life. We focus on communication, time management, collaboration, digital literacy, financial basics — and perhaps most importantly, building empathy, self-worth, and motivation. Many young adults with autism in India lose their spark because no one ever gave them purpose. That’s when regression creeps in. Here, we don’t just paint pictures — we help artists find meaning, rhythm, and a reason to rise each morning. Because a working artist isn’t just creating on canvas — they’re creating their life.

Yes — in fact, most of the learning is life learning. Our artists learn to set schedules, follow briefs, work with curators, participate in meetings, and take pride in showing up consistently. Over time, they gain emotional resilience, better self-regulation, and a growing sense of independence. It’s life prep — wrapped in paint, movement and possibility.

Calm starts, joyful focus, co-regulated routines. The day is designed to support neurodivergent rhythms — with predictable routines, built-in breaks, and structured mentorship sessions. No chaos. No pressure. Just art blocks, peer time, curator guidance, and space to reflect and reset. It’s rigorous and kind.

It’s a routine — but with room to breathe. Artists work on projects with timelines, deliverables, and curator feedback. But we also respect energy dips, shutdowns, and sensory needs. That’s why our model blends accountability with compassion. Because creativity needs structure — and so does healing.

Yes — and in many cases, more than expected. Our artists have sold works from ₹50,000 up to ₹1,00,000 and beyond. This isn’t charity or tokenism — it’s real value being recognised. With mentorship, branding support, and curated exhibitions, we help turn raw talent into dignified income. And that feeling? Of being valued? That’s priceless.

We guide, mentor, and protect — without taking over. We make sure the artist is valued — and guided. When a piece sells, the artist is rewarded for their time, talent, and magic. A small share also supports the team effort behind the scenes — because curating brilliance takes a village. We offer gentle financial mentoring along the way, and families stay in the loop. It’s all handled with clarity, care, and a whole lot of heart.

Yes, with consent and care. If your child needs assistance, funds can be routed through you. But we’re big on autonomy. Where possible, artists are encouraged to build decision-making skills. It’s not just about managing money — it’s about growing confidence in handling their own lives.

A creative one — and a proud one. Some of our artists become full-time professional artists. Others take commissions, license designs, or join our Artist Collective. A few go on to assist in curation or teaching. It’s not one-size-fits-all — it’s “let’s build your path together.”

Yes — and for many, it’s the first time they truly do. We create small peer collectives where artists spend the day together, eat together, create together, and support one another. Over time, they develop attachment, empathy, and emotional safety — not through forced “social skills” but through shared creativity and trust.

Not just accepted — understood and celebrated. This space is designed for neurodivergent artists, by a team that includes neurodivergent leaders. We don’t try to fix quirks or force conformity. Your child will meet mentors who get it, peers who live it, and curators who work with — not against — their rhythms.

We don’t punish pain. We respond with care. Meltdowns are not failures here — they’re signals. Our staff is trained in emotional mentoring, trauma-informed care, and co-regulation. Artists are never isolated or shamed. They’re offered rest, calm, and time — and then gently guided back into flow.

Yes — and they’re part of our everyday rhythm. We work closely with developmental pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and behaviour experts who form a gentle circle of care around each artist. Our team is trained to notice distress early and respond with compassion, not control. And when deeper support is needed, we help nurture the parts of your child that may have been shut down or left behind. Because true integration doesn’t come from “fixing” — it comes from healing and building skills that make life feel possible again.

It doesn’t “end” — it evolves into a lifelong artistic journey. The AIR program is part of our Life Academy — a living, breathing collective where artists continue to learn, grow, and create for years to come. We don’t believe learning stops at a certain age or with a certificate — not for neurotypicals, and certainly not for neurodivergents. In fact, the more their minds stay engaged — through new projects, skills, and collaborations — the stronger their artistic and life capacities become. Our artists work like any other creative team: taking on commissions, building collections, co-creating products. The difference? They do it in an environment built to support their rhythm, regulation, and real-world success. Behind each artist is a team that helps fill in the missing pieces — whether that’s communication, planning, or emotional scaffolding. Together, we make a full-fledged, fulfilling creative life possible. And not just possible — joyful.

Because regular colleges aren’t built for minds like theirs — yet. Most mainstream art colleges expect neurotypical pace, language, communication, and classroom behaviour. That’s where many neurodivergent learners get left behind. At SK, we don’t ask your child to change to fit the system. We change the system to fit your child.

What’s truly limiting is putting them where they’re invisible. We’re not isolating — we’re incubating. Here, your child isn’t the exception. They’re the standard. That changes everything: confidence, growth, dignity. Once they’ve bloomed in safety, they can step into the world on their terms — as artists, not afterthoughts.

None quite like this — not yet. We’re India’s first full-time artist residency built for and with autistic and neurodivergent adults. Others may offer workshops or therapy-based art sessions — but a vocational, curatorial, earn-while-you-learn model designed around identity and dignity? That’s what makes SK one of a kind.

Because brilliance is falling through the cracks. So many gifted autistic adults are stuck at home — not because they lack talent, but because systems don’t see or support them. This program is proof that when you build a structure around their strengths, not their labels, everything changes.

It already has — and we’re just getting started. Our artists have showcased internationally — at the Paris Outsider Art Fair, the Kochi Biennale, and with global fashion and design brands. They’ve sold pieces worth lakhs. This isn’t pity-purchasing. It’s people finally seeing what we always knew: that neurodivergent art is real art.

100% their name. 100% their right. Every artwork created belongs to the artist. When it’s sold, the credit goes to them — always. Your child is not a student making art — they are an artist learning to own their work.

We’ve built in safety at every step. Artists are guided through contracts, sales terms, and consent processes — all in simplified formats, with parent or guardian involvement where needed. Our team ensures your child’s rights, dignity, and intellectual property are always protected. Nothing is done without clarity and care.

Not on our watch. Every project, price, and client is vetted by our curation team. Artists are never rushed or overworked. No one is used for “inspiration stories.” We’re here to build careers — not content. Your child will be guided, not exploited.

You stay involved — as a partner, not a shadow. We honour your journey as much as your child’s. We involve parents in financial decisions, updates, and emotional support planning. But we also help you slowly step back as your child steps into confidence. It’s a shared transition — not a cold handoff.

We simplify, visualise, and never rush consent. We use visuals, repetition, storytelling, and guardian support to explain any legal agreement. No jargon. No pressure. Artists are encouraged to ask questions, make choices, and build agency — one conversation at a time.

Yes — and not in a “gold star” kind of way. This isn’t about token praise. It’s about real accomplishment. When your child creates a powerful artwork, sees it framed, priced, and sold — something shifts inside. They begin to see themselves not just as someone with a diagnosis, but as someone with a voice. Pride doesn’t come from being told they matter. It comes from knowing they do. And here, they know.

Because we stopped trying to make neurodivergent kids fit the system — and built a system around them instead. Most programs try to “fix” behaviour, teach compliance, or follow rigid structures. We don’t. We see art as a language, routine as a rhythm, and identity as sacred. This isn’t therapy wrapped in paint. It’s professional training with soul. And most importantly? It was created with neurodivergent voices, not just for them.

Yes — and here, they’re not seen as a need. They’re seen as a gift. We don’t lead with diagnosis. We lead with art, with agency, with value. Your child won’t be the exception in the room — they’ll be part of a collective. They won’t be the student who needs support — they’ll be the artist others come to see. That shift — from pity to pride — changes everything.

It already has. Our artists have exhibited in Paris, Kochi, and national platforms. They’ve been interviewed, awarded, and applauded — not as “inspirations” but as professionals. But the real change? It’s what happens when they look in the mirror and see not a limitation, but a legacy unfolding. This program doesn’t just teach skills — it reclaims identity.

We don’t just “teach” art — we build a life through it. In most schools, art is either an add-on or a calming tool. Here, it’s the main language. We break down complex artistic techniques into shapes, stories, and steps that neurodivergent minds can connect with. There’s no “correct” brushstroke. Instead, there’s co-creation, sensory attunement, and joyful structure. We don’t rush toward outcomes. We build depth, confidence, and an identity as an artist.

Everything — we don’t build for, we build with. Our founder is neurodivergent. Many of our advisors and collaborators are, too. We believe the most powerful solutions come from those who’ve walked the path. That’s why the curriculum is co-designed, tested on the floor, adapted in real-time, and always in conversation with the lived needs of our artists. It’s not “inclusive” as an afterthought — it’s the foundation.

Absolutely — and many already are. We’ve hosted workshops, teacher training sessions, and educator immersions. What surprises most teachers is how our approach improves all kinds of learning — not just for autistic students. Once you see what’s possible when you slow down, adapt, and honour difference, you never teach the same way again.

We train for skill and soul. Facilitators at SK are trained in autism-specific practices, emotional mentoring, AAC methods, and co-regulation. But we also go deeper — exploring their own biases, patience, and capacity for attuned listening. Our belief? Anyone can learn to “teach,” but only those who see the child can truly support their growth. That’s the heart of our training.

It’s vocational — with healing as a beautiful side-effect. We don’t do “art therapy.” We do art practice — bold, professional, and skill-based. But the magic is: when artists are seen, guided, and respected, their mental health improves. Self-worth grows. Meltdowns reduce. So yes, it’s vocational — and yes, it heals. But that healing comes from dignity, not from being “fixed.”

Small groups, big care. We keep ratios low — typically 1:4 or 1:5 — with additional mentors and support as needed. This ensures artists are guided without being hovered over, and independence can grow alongside safety.

Our outcomes are both lived and documented. We’ve published in journals, been recognised internationally, and tracked measurable growth in cognition, regulation, and livelihood. But beyond data, the most powerful evidence is the work itself: artists creating, exhibiting, and earning — year after year. This isn’t theory. It’s practice — with proof.

Yes — and that’s our vision. Our model is modular, documented, and adaptable. With trained facilitators and strong partnerships, AIR can be replicated in other urban and semi-urban contexts. We believe this isn’t just India’s need — it’s the world’s. And we’re building the systems to share it widely.