VANCOUVER, Washington, January 19, 2021 – The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) is pleased to announce its open call for two new award programs. After a year of strategic planning and working closely with our network of artists, grantees and stakeholders, NACF moves into its second decade with SHIFT, a two-year program designed to support artist and community-driven projects responding to social, environmental or economic justice issues through a Native lens. NACF is also launching LIFT, a one-year award and early career support program for emerging Native artists to develop and realize new projects.
“Through these programs, we are all offered deeper insight into the complexities of contemporary Native life. Our artists speak for us, challenging our notions of identity and culture, revealing our innate brilliance and pointing us toward a better future," says Reuben Tomás Roqueñi (Yaqui/Mayo/Chicanx Descent), NACF’s Director of Transformative Change Programs.
SHIFT PROGRAM
NACF is now accepting Letters of Interest for the SHIFT–Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts program. SHIFT is a two-year award that includes financial resources, professional development, artist/stakeholder convening, cross-sector collaboration, evaluation, exhibiting and presenting opportunities for Native artists, cultural practitioners, and community partners. The program’s focus is to bring attention to Native communities to shift a national narrative of invisibility, misunderstanding and misappropriation. SHIFT will provide invaluable resources for project development, production and presentation for artists and their collaborators.
Eligible Letters of Interest must include both a Native artist applicant (individual or an artist collective) and a partner organization/co-applicant working in dance/choreography, fiction/poetry writing, film/video, multi- disciplinary arts, music, performance art, theater and screenplay writing, traditional arts, or 2D + 3D visual arts. Artist applicant must be an enrolled member or citizen of a federally-recognized or state-recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Partner organization/co-applicants must be a US-based non-profit organization, for-profit business, or tribal agency working in collaboration with Native artists or Native artist collectives. We encourage artists to apply who: have experience developing projects focused on engaging communities and the public to address community issues; build upon community cultural assets; and partner with organizations to develop and present the work.
SHIFT is a monetary award totaling $100,000 for two years, with $50,000 of the award earmarked for the lead artist or artist collective. Up to ten projects will be selected to receive SHIFT awards. For a full description of the award, eligibility requirements and to apply, please visit http://bit.ly/NACF-shift. The deadline to submit the online Letter of Interest form for SHIFT is Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time.
LIFT PROGRAM
NACF is also accepting applications for the LIFT–Early Career Support for Native Artists program. LIFT will provide one-year awards for early-career Native artists to develop and realize new projects. The program’s focus is to provide financial support and professional development to artists whose work aims to uplift communities and advance positive social change.
Eligible applicants must be individual Native artists working in dance/choreography, fiction/poetry writing, film/video, multi-disciplinary arts, music, performance art, theater and screenplay writing, traditional arts, or 2D + 3D visual arts. Artist applicant must be an enrolled member or citizen of a federally-recognized or state- recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry. We encourage artists to apply who are shaping their practices and for whom the award may serve as a launching point in their career.
LIFT is a monetary award of up to $10,000 for a proposed project with $2,500 earmarked for the artist’s benefit and wellbeing. Up to twenty artists will be selected to receive LIFT awards. For a full description of the award, eligibility requirements and to apply, please visit http://bit.ly/NACF-lift. The deadline to submit the online application form for LIFT is Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time.
About the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation’s mission is to advance equity and cultural knowledge, focusing on the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the United States. The Foundation has supported over 300 artists and arts organizations in 34 states and the District of Columbia. To learn more about the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation visit www.nativeartsandcultures.org.
