Help Me Take My Art Practice to China!
Hi, I’m Rishikesh Ghorpade, a calligrapher, violinist, and linguistics MA student at the University of York. I’ve been selected to attend the Global Arts and Rural Development Innovation Workshop in Zhejiang Province, China this summer, a prestigious, fully-funded opportunity hosted by Zhejiang Normal University.
But here’s the catch: the scholarship doesn’t cover my flights or visa, and I need your support to get there. If I don’t raise at least £1,300 by June 10th, I won’t be able to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. (Any additional funds raised beyond my actual expenses will be donated to the University of Opportunity fund, to help support opportunities for other students.)
🎯 My Minimum Goal: £1,300
This covers:
- ✈️ Return flight to China – £1000
- 🛂 Visa fees & documents – £160
- 🛡️ Travel insurance – £70
- 🧳 Emergency buffer – £70 (Please note that these costs are approximate and may vary depending on the timing of flight bookings.)
Why This Matters
This workshop isn’t just a trip, it’s a creative and academic deep-dive into sustainable rural development through the arts. I’ll work alongside global students, artists, and scholars, engaging in:
- ✍🏽 Hands-on cultural and artistic fieldwork
- 🧑🏽🤝🧑🏽 Collaborative rural design projects
- 🎓 Seminars on heritage and innovation
- 🖼️ Exhibitions and public art initiatives
I’ll bring my background in linguistics, Indian classical music, and multilingual calligraphy to the table, and bring back field insights, creative outputs, and global connections to share with my peers and future research work.
✍🏽 If you donate over £30, you can opt in to receive a Special Thank You: A Name in Ancient Scripts
To thank you for your support, I’ll write your name in historic and artistic scripts such as:
- Devanagari
- Ancient Brahmi
- Ancient Siddham
- Japanese Kana
You’ll receive a digital artwork, a small token of deep appreciation, created during or after the workshop.
🕒 Time is Short!
My campaign ends June 10, 2025, and I can only attend the workshop if I meet the minimum by then. 📅 Workshop dates: June 24 – July 7, 2025
🫶 How You Can Help
- Donate whatever you can — even £5 makes a big difference!
- Share this page with your friends, colleagues, and networks.
- Follow and support the journey: 📸 Instagram: @rishi_ghorpade20 📧 Email: rishikeshghorpade20@gmail.com / dkt526@york.ac.uk
With your help, I’ll represent India and the University of York on an international platform where heritage meets innovation, and tradition meets creativity.
Thank you for being part of my journey.
Warm regards, Rishikesh
