Indigenous Artist Growth & Development Fellowship

A partnership between Sacred Pipe Resource Center (SPRC) and North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA).

The goal of the Indigenous Artist Growth & Development Fellowship is to assist Indigenous artists in progressing in their growth and development by providing support, guidance, and technical assistance over an 18-month period to five Indigenous artists who live within the North Dakota borders. The Fellowship will be personalized for each artist.

Each of the five artists will receive $5,000 to cover technical assistance and consulting fees in focused areas to benefit their artistic work. Funds can also be used to rent space, hire collaborators, or purchase supplies (does not include equipment or costs to start a business).

Examples of how funds can be utilized:

• Marketing – this might include hiring a graphic designer, photographer or building a website;
• Financial – this might include learning more about budget, pricing, and accounting practices or hiring a bookkeeper;
• Portfolio Development – this might include hiring a writer to assist with an artist statement, biography, and narratives focused on describing your work;
• Exploring business models – this might include copyright information, licensure, models, and tax implications;
• Working with a fiscal sponsor;
• Anything else you need technical assistance with or that you consider a challenge or barrier.

Eligibility:

• Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA)
• Spirit Lake
• Sisseton Wahpeton
• Standing Rock
• Turtle Mountain/Trenton Services
• Other Federal/State recognized Tribe

*Applicant must be 18 or older and cannot be enrolled as a full-time student.

Application Timeline

1. Round 1 deadline December 29, 2023
   Submit basic questionnaire focused on self-identified needs. This is an easy fillable document. Participate and complete a 1-on-1 advisement session to focus on your grant process, working with Sacred Pipe Artist in Residence.
   1. What are the burning questions you have?
   2. How do you prioritize your needs?
2. Round 2 deadline January 31, 2024
   Submit application online through North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA). During your advisement session, you will be provided with tools to fill out the online grant application. The Selection Committee will review all applications against the following criteria:
   1. Where you are at right now
   2. Your vision for the future
   3. Strong concept for what needs are
   4. Commitment to full program
   5. How your participation in this program will take you to the next level
   6. Your eligibility, as listed below

Definitions

• Artist – all artforms are eligible including traditional arts: visual, performing, literary arts, spoken word, music, graphic arts, etc. If you have a question about if your artform qualifies, contact Shawna Fricke at the Sacred Pipe Resource Center via email native@sacredpipe.net or phone (701-663-3886).

Fellowship Timeline

• February 2024
  • Fellowships announced
• March 2024
  • Select consultants and teachers and mentors
• April 2024 - December 2024
  • Begin trainings: Bi-weekly check-ins
  • Working with consultants and teachers, other creatives
  • Begin monthly cohort gatherings online and occasional in-person
• January 2025
  • Begin wrap-up – put your training into action plan
  • Translate your work for a spring capstone presentation*
    *A capstone allows participants to demonstrate what they’ve learned over time in a public presentation.
  • Create timeline and budget for your next steps
• Spring 2025
  • Capstone to share what you’ve accomplished with cohort, mentors, family, and others

Grant Award Range

• $5,000 maximum request
• No matching funds are required for this program

For Questions or Assistance

Contact Program Officer Kim Konikow | kkonikow@nd.gov | (701) 328-7592