Artist and Community Collaboration

Support for Communities

Mobilizing the Community Through the Arts

Artist and Community Collaboration Initiative

Awards up to $10,000

As part of NACF’s strategy to foster artistic activities in Native communities, we invited Native artists to partner with tribal entities and nonprofit organizations to collaborate on artworks that integrate the community into artistic practice. Artists and organizations were encouraged to plan projects in which the creation of an artwork is central to the project and in which the artist functions primarily as an agent for community development. The artists work will serve as an interface for community participation, engaging the community in the artist's work and use the making of art to help strengthen the community, draw attention to an important issue, and engage community members in new ways.

Total allocation: $100,000

* Click on organization's name for more information

Navajo Pottery Project

UGA, Institute of Native American Studies
Wampum Belt: Telling Our Story

Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum
Weaving the Past With Present and Future

Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Kake Day 100-year Carved Commemoration Panels

Organized Village of Kake
10th Annual Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Institute

Kahilu Theatre Foundation
OPERAtunities

Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus
Salmon Ceremony Project

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Native Voices

Center for Multi-Cultural Cooperation
Tribal Ambassadors Through Theater

California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
Enter the Circle

American Indian Center

“The act of giving was part of the ‘gifting economy’ of the Northwest where one’s wealth was measured by generosity, good work and a good heart. That is the work of philanthropy too: It’s an honor to have plenty and to share. There is no lack when you have this process in place and the most important mindset to have while participating is gratitude, or giving thanks and promising to care for all, no matter what.”

Elizabeth Woody, Navajo/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama

K-12 Program Coordinator, Center for Coastal Marine Observation & Prediction

“These gifts demonstrate strong tribal interest in creating a powerful funding engine for protecting and preserving Native art and culture—the very cornerstones of tribal sovereignty. A foundation of this nature will help reverse the long history of government suppression of Native culture done as part of the United States' assimilation program. Through gifts of this nature, Indian Country can direct its resources to protect what is closest to home to all Indian tribes—our own cultures."

Walter Echo-Hawk, Pawnee

Board Chair, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation

Artist and Community Collaboration

2011/2012 Grantees

2010/2011 Grantees