CMAT Festival Assistance Scheme 2026: Financial Support for Manipur Artists
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Quick answer
The CMAT Festival Assistance Scheme provides financial help to artists from Manipur for travel expenses when participating in recognised international and national festivals. Eligible artists must meet performance criteria and apply offline to the Directorate of Art & Culture, Manipur. Selection is by a government committee.
At a glance
| Main benefit | Financial assistance for travel costs |
| Ministry / department | Art and Culture Department |
| Level | State Government (Manipur) |
| Application mode | Offline |
About the scheme
The Chief Ministergi Artistesinggi Tengbang (CMAT) Scheme supports artists from Manipur by providing financial assistance to cover travel and journey costs for participation in international and national festivals. While artists must cover international travel, visa fees, and performance remuneration themselves, the scheme helps reduce other expenses. The scheme is state-sponsored and aims to promote cultural representation by supporting artists who have demonstrated experience in recognised festivals at state and national levels. Applications are accepted offline and reviewed by a government-appointed selection committee.
Benefits
- Financial assistance to cover travel and journey costs for artists participating in international festivals abroad.
- Financial assistance to cover travel and journey costs for artists participating in recognised national festivals.
- Support is provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Three artists supported annually for international festivals.
- Three artists supported annually for national festivals.
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Applicant must be a resident/domicile of Manipur.
- Applicant must be an artist.
- For international festival assistance, individual artists or groups must have performed in at least 2/3 of recognised national festivals and participated in 3/4 of state level programmes.
- For national festival assistance, individual artists or groups must have performed in at least 3/4 of recognised national festivals and participated in 3/4 of state level programmes.
- Applicant or group must not have been wholly sponsored by any individual or institution for the same purpose.
Who cannot apply
- Applicants who are not residents/domiciles of Manipur.
- Applicants sponsored wholly by any individual or institution for the same purpose.
- Applications submitted online (only offline accepted).
Documents required
- Duly filled application form.
- Original invitation letter for the festival.
- Self-attested copies of documents proving participation in required festivals and programmes.
How to apply
- 1Obtain the application form from the Directorate of Art & Culture, Manipur.
- 2Fill in the application form with required details.
- 3Attach the original invitation letter and self-attested supporting documents.
- 4Address the application and cover letter to the Director (Art & Culture).
- 5Submit the application offline at the Directorate of Art & Culture office at Palace Compound, Imphal.
- 6Ensure the application reaches the Directorate at least one month before the travel schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the CMAT Festival Assistance Scheme?+
Artists who are residents of Manipur and meet the performance criteria for national and state level festivals are eligible.
How many artists are supported annually for international and national festivals?+
Three artists are supported each year for international festivals and three for national festivals.
How to apply for the CMAT Festival Assistance Scheme?+
Applications must be submitted offline to the Directorate of Art & Culture, Manipur, with all required documents and the original invitation letter.
Is there an income limit to apply for this scheme?+
No, there is no income-related eligibility criterion for this scheme.
Is online application accepted for this scheme?+
No, only offline applications are accepted.
Who decides whether a festival is international or national?+
A government-appointed Screening/Selection Committee decides the classification of festivals.
Are there any age or gender restrictions for applicants?+
No, there are no age or gender restrictions mentioned in the scheme guidelines.
What documents need to be self-attested?+
All required supporting documents attached to the application must be self-attested.
NaukriZila is not a government website. Apply only on the official portal; never pay anyone to apply for a government scheme. Source: myScheme (Government of India)