Punjab Artist Support Fund 2026-27: Apply by 15 October, Old Stipend List Cancelled
Punjab's Artist Support Fund 2026-27 closes on 15 October and the old stipend list is cancelled. See who qualifies, where to apply and the documents to bring.
Punjab has opened applications for the Artist Support Fund 2026-27, and the last date is 15 October 2026. The bigger change is in the small print: the old list of artists who were getting a monthly stipend was cancelled at the end of the 2025-26 financial year.
So an artist who has been paid for years is not carried over. Only artists who apply in this round can get a stipend or financial help in 2026-27. We read this on the official advertisement and the application form posted by the Punjab Arts Council.
Current stipend holders must apply again by 15 October
Every artist who wants support in 2026-27 must send a fresh application by 15 October 2026. The Punjab Information and Culture Department says the existing list of stipend holders ended with the 2025-26 financial year, so nobody stays on it automatically.
The advertisement is blunt about it. Artists who do not apply in response to this year's advertisement will not be eligible for a stipend or financial help in 2026-27. If you know an older artist who depends on this money, tell them now. Many of them do not follow department websites.
The advertisement does not state the monthly stipend amount for 2026-27. The application form does not state it either. We will not guess a figure.
Artists need 25 years of work and income under Rs 40,000
An applicant needs 25 years of experience in the arts and a personal monthly income below Rs 40,000. Men must be at least 50 years old and women at least 45. Disabled artists have no age or experience limit, and only residents of Punjab can apply.
| Condition | What the advertisement and form say |
|---|---|
| Experience | 25 years |
| Personal monthly income | Less than Rs 40,000 |
| Minimum age, men | 50 years |
| Minimum age, women | 45 years |
| Disabled artists | No age or experience limit, hospital disability certificate required |
| Residence | Residents of Punjab only |
| Last date | 15 October 2026 |
Disabled artists must attach a disability certificate issued by the relevant hospital. If you do not have one yet, the process for a disability certificate and special CNIC takes time, so start it before you fill in the form.
The fund covers film, music, theatre and technical crews
The fund is open to artists in film, TV, radio, theatre, music, dance, painting, calligraphy and sculpture. It also covers technical workers: editors, sound recordists, lightmen, cameramen, stuntmen and make-up artists. Backstage workers qualify, not only performers.
That last group matters. A cameraman or a sound recordist who spent 30 years on drama sets often has no pension and no savings. The form lists them by name, so they should not assume the fund is only for singers and actors.
The form also asks at what level you worked: tehsil, district, division, province, national or international. A local artist is not ruled out. You tick the level that is true and prove it.
You apply at an arts council, not online
You submit a paper form at an arts council office. Artists in Lahore Division go to the Lahore Arts Council at Alhamra, Mall Road. Others can go to the Punjab Council of the Arts in Shadman, Lahore, or to their Divisional Director of the Punjab Arts Council.
- Download the form from the Punjab Arts Council notice, or collect it from any arts council office.
- Fill in your personal details, your art field, your level of work and your years of service.
- Fill in the money section: any government help you already get, other income, whether your home is owned or rented, and how many people depend on you.
- Attach a copy of your CNIC, two recent photographs and documents that prove your experience.
- Submit the form at your arts council office by 15 October 2026 and keep a copy.
The two Lahore offices printed on the advertisement are the Lahore Arts Council, phone 042-99200017, and the Punjab Council of the Arts at 53 Shadman-II, phone 042-99266030 to 40. The department's own number is 042-99204837. The form is also on the Punjab Arts Council, Information and Culture Department and Lahore Arts Council websites.
Proof of experience decides most applications
Your application is only as strong as your proof of 25 years of work. The form asks you to attach documentary proof, and the department says it can reject an incomplete application, or one with wrong details, at any stage without giving a reason.
So gather what you can before you go. Useful proof can include old contracts, programme notes, newspaper cuttings, award certificates, a letter from a radio or TV station, or a letter from a senior artist or union. Photocopies are fine to attach, but keep your originals safe.
Be honest about income. The form asks about other income and existing government help, and a wrong answer is a reason to reject. If you already get help from another programme, such as medical help from Bait-ul-Mal, write it down.
The form also mentions an app. Artists who want to can register on the department's app called "Fankar", from the Google Play Store. The form does not say the app replaces the paper application, so submit the form either way.
Common questions
What is the last date for the Punjab Artist Support Fund 2026-27?
15 October 2026. Applications go to the Lahore Arts Council, the Punjab Council of the Arts or your Divisional Director of the Punjab Arts Council.
I already get a stipend. Do I need to apply again?
Yes. The advertisement says the current list of stipend holders was cancelled at the end of 2025-26. Only artists who apply in this round are eligible in 2026-27.
How much is the Artist Support Fund stipend?
The 2026-27 advertisement and form do not state an amount. We could not find the figure on any official page, so we are not printing one.
Can a disabled artist apply without 25 years of experience?
Yes. Disabled artists have no age or experience limit, but they must attach a disability certificate from the relevant hospital.
Can an artist from outside Punjab apply?
No. The form says only residents of Punjab can apply.
Can I apply online?
No online form is offered. You download or collect the paper form and submit it at an arts council office.
Last checked and sources
Last checked on 27 September 2026. We read the Artist Support Fund 2026-27 advertisement image and the two-page application form (a scanned PDF, read page by page) on the Punjab Arts Council website. The eligibility rules, the 15 October 2026 deadline, the cancelled 2025-26 list, the offices, phone numbers, document checklist, residence rule and the Fankar app are all from those two documents, issued by the Information and Culture Department, Government of the Punjab. The stipend amount is not stated in either and we could not confirm it anywhere else.
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Fajr Riaz is a well-talented author at Pakera.pk with expertise in creative content creation/writing and storytelling. Fajr's strength lies in creating engaging articles, detailed guides, and straight narratives that connect with readers and give meaningful insights. With her accurate attention to detail and passion for writing, Fajr has established herself as a pivotal pillar at Pakera and is invaluable.
