The voices of Native American and Indigenous artists and culture bearers in Massachusetts are vital to our communities, the broader region, and beyond. It’s important that we support them in sharing their stories, preserving traditions, and expressing creativity. In recognition of these voices and their artistic contributions, and in alignment with our Native American & Indigenous People’s Equity Plan, we have gathered some resources and opportunities that are available to bolster Native American and Indigenous artists’ creative practice, cultural stewardship, and community work. Please consider exploring these programs at Mass Cultural Council, along with what is available through the following local and national organizations.
Direct Resources from Mass Cultural Council
Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners should check out our Grants for Creative Individuals program, launched in October 2023. The program equitably advances creativity throughout the Commonwealth with unrestricted $5,000 grants to individuals who demonstrate achievement of creative expression and commitment to their artistic/cultural practice. There is also a funding priority for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and a funding priority for being a traditional artist or culture bearer. Applicants who meet an applicable funding priority will receive a modest rating advantage in the program’s scoring. We plan to offer this grant program every year.
Other Mass Cultural Council Programs for Artists/Culture Bearers
Local Cultural Council Grants
Another Mass Cultural Council program that includes support for creative individuals is the Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program. LCCs in 351 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts award smaller grants (typically averaging $500-$750) for cultural projects that benefit a specific Massachusetts community. Most councils accept applications from individual artists and culture bearers.
When applying for an LCC grant, you must explain how your project will benefit that particular community and engage its residents. Funding criteria and priorities vary from town to town, so the best way to see if your project is right for a particular community is to contact that LCC (find your Local Cultural Council). The deadline every year is on or around October 15.
Tribal Cultural Council Grants
The Tribal Cultural Council (TCC) Program, an expansion of the Local Cultural Council Program, supports Native American and Indigenous communities by providing funds for Tribal governments to grant to projects that provide community benefit. Contact your TCC to apply for a grant.
Other Organizations and Resources
A number of other organizations offer funding, visibility, or other means of support to Native American and Indigenous artists and culture bearers. While many opportunities are specifically for Native American or Indigenous artists some included below accept applications from all artists.
CreativeGround, a project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, is an online database open to all artists and creative businesses in New England. It is also a way for Native American artists of New England to connect with each other and is used as a resource to connect those outside the community to a vibrant New England culture. It has replaced the Native Arts Directory PDF, which has been used by various organizations throughout New England to find – and hire – Native American artists, including the Boston Children’s Museum, The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and Springstep Studios.
Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures, and political resilience since 1972. The organization offers support via their Keepers of the Earth Fund, Indigenous Community Media Fund, a quarterly magazine, the Cultural Survival Bazaars, webinars and research, among many other resources.
Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship for Native American and First Nations Artists recognizes and celebrates Native American and First Nations artists in the field of contemporary Native art. The Eiteljorg Museum and the Fellowship have played a unique and critical role in increasing national and international awareness and appreciation for contemporary Native Art.
First Peoples Fund supports the cultural, artistic and ancestral practices of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists, families and communities, helping them to thrive, heal and carry forward Indigenous creative expression, teachings and lifeways. They offer multiple artist grant opportunities, a blog, podcast, and a Native artist resource page.
The Impact Award for Native American Art from Harpo Foundation offers one annual $25,000 fellowship to amplify the contributions of under-recognized Native American contemporary visual artists. The Impact Award for Native American Art aims to further the Foundation’s mission to expand creative inquiry through inclusivity and equitable representation in the visual arts.
Native Arts & Cultures Foundation (NACF) is a Native-led, 501 (c) 3 philanthropic organization dedicated exclusively to the perpetuation of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and cultures nationwide. They offer the Shift and Lift grant programs for Native artists and curate an Artists Resources page dedicated to supporting the creativity of Native artists across the country.
Northeast Indigenous Arts Alliance (NIAA) strengthens and supports the Northeast Indigenous artist community by providing opportunities that will promote, protect, preserve, and continue the artistic vitality of work in the region. They are a consortium of Native organizations and artists that have joined together to support the cultural vitality of our region by providing resources and opportunities, addressing needs, and connecting artists.
Through their affiliate program and grant funding efforts, the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples supports Native grassroot initiatives focusing on healthy environments, social justice, and community well-being. They recognize the critical need for access to resources, technical assistance, and training.
The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History offers the Southern New England Apprenticeship Program (SNEAP), which helps communities preserve their cultural knowledge by supporting teaching relationships between a mentor and apprentice artist. The program provides funding to cross-state apprenticeship teams from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut. The teaching and learning of traditional arts, trades, practices, or crafts helps sustain culture that is important to a community. This grant is available to all traditional artists, including Native American/Indigenous artists, from CT, MA, or RI to partner with another traditional artist from a different state (within those three states) in an apprenticeship.
The Ucross Foundation offers Fellowships for Native American Visual Artists and Native American Writers; two visual artists and two writers are awarded each year. Those selected for the fellowship are offered a four-week residency, a stipend, and a featured gallery exhibition at Ucross the following year or an opportunity to present work publicly.
Vermont Folklife (VTF) offers the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, which supports mentor artists and apprentices who have already decided to work together. The purpose of VTF’s traditional arts apprenticeship program is to provide funding to help compensate the mentor artist for their time and to cover the cost of travel and of materials used during the apprenticeship. Mentor artists applicants may reside in Massachusetts, but their apprentice artist should reside in Vermont.
Whether it’s through advocacy, fellowships and grant programs, artist residencies, professional development, community building and connection, or through the various other services provided, we hope Native and Indigenous artists find something within this list of opportunities that resonates with them and supports their and/or their community’s creative vision. However, this is by no means a comprehensive list, so feel free to let us know about other funding opportunities for Native American and Indigenous artists and culture bearers in Massachusetts. Mass Cultural Council’s Artist Department is always looking to learn about these types of opportunities and is proud to share them!
Additionally, for any questions or assistance navigating these opportunities, feel free to reach out to Summer Confuorto (Gros Ventre, Cree, Mi’kmaq), Program Officer, Traditional Arts, 617-858-2713. And please sign up for the Mass Cultural Council’s Artist News e-newsletter to receive the most up-to-date news on our deadlines and applications or follow us on social media @MassCultural.
Related reading:
Tips on Applying to the Grants for Creative Individuals
Tips on Applying as a Culture Bearer or Traditional Artist
Funding for Massachusetts Artists and Culture Bearers
Useful Links
Images: Wampum art by Mass Cultural Council grantee Elizabeth James-Perry; beaded necklace with Thunderbird pendant and earrings by Mass Cultural Council grantee Hartman Deetz; Mass Cultural Council grantee Andre Strongbearheart Gaines, Jr., along with Nazario Tall Hair Red Deer Garate & Miguel Wandering Turtle Garate.
Leave a Reply