Native Arts + Cultures Foundation
Native Arts + Cultures Foundation
261595870
2007
Portland, OR 97214-2387 USA
nativeartsandcultures.org
nativeartsandcultures
1435216
Native Arts + Cultures Foundation
The Native Arts + Cultures Foundation (NACF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Native American artists, culture bearers, and Native-led arts organizations throughout the United States. Founded in 2008, NACF is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and serves American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.
Mission and Purpose
NACF's mission is to advance equity and cultural knowledge by utilizing the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change. The organization achieves this through various programs, including fellowships and project funding, all designed to uplift Indigenous artistic and cultural practices.
History
NACF was established following a feasibility study highlighting the need for dedicated support for Native arts. Initial funding came from a $10 million commitment by the Ford Foundation, with additional support from the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians. Founding board members included notable figures such as Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), Joy Harjo (Mvskoke), and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Programs and Initiatives
- Artist Fellowships: NACF offers several fellowship programs, including the National Artist Fellowship, Regional Arts Fellowships, and Mentor Artist Fellowship. These support Native artists across visual, performing, and literary arts.
- SHIFT Program: Focuses on transformative change through community-driven projects that address social issues from a Native perspective.
- LIFT Program: Provides one-year awards to emerging Native artists to develop new projects and advance positive social change.
- Community Engagement: NACF conducts educational outreach and community projects to foster cultural understanding and appreciation among broader audiences.
Infrastructure
In 2020, NACF received the Yale Union building in Portland as part of the #LandBack movement, which it uses as a hub for cultural preservation, exhibitions, and community events.
Leadership
As of recent years, Shyla Spicer (Yakama) serves as President and CEO, guiding NACF's strategic growth and community collaborations.
Impact
NACF has supported over 400 artists nationwide with grants totaling more than $16 million since its inception. It continues to expand its reach through national and international collaborations, promoting Native arts and cultures on a global scale.
[1] https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/native-arts-and-cultures-foundation-seeks-vice-president-of-community-impact/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Arts_and_Cultures_Foundation [3] https://murdocktrust.org/2023/04/stories-of-impact-native-arts-and-cultures-foundation [4] https://blog.americansforthearts.org/2021/06/25/native-arts-and-cultures-foundation-a-national-leader-supporting-indigenous-artists-and-engaging [5] https://www.nativeartsandcultures.org
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This is your last call to apply for LIFT: Early Career Support for Native Artists. Applications close tomorrow April 8 at 5 P.M. Pacific Time. Through his dynamic paintings, Del Curfman (Crow Tribe of Montana), a 2021 LIFT awardee, challenges stereotypes and expands the narrative of what it means to be Indigenous today. His work celebrates the strength, vibrancy, and living traditions of Native peoples. It demonstrates how the arts can drive change, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and imagine thriving futures. LIFT supports emerging Native artists by centering Indigenous voices and creating new pathways for storytelling, visibility, and community impact. Do not miss this opportunity to amplify your voice and vision. Apply now: nativeartsandcultures.org/lift or link in bio Questions? Contact: GrantSupport@nativeartsandcultures.org ++++ Image: Mothers Knowledge by 2021 LIFT Awardee Del Curfman (Crow Tribe of Montana) #NativeArtists #NarrativeChange #IndigenousFutures #NativeArtsAndCultures #LIFT2025 #CrowTribe (fb)
ARTnews recognizes NACF awardees! 🌟 Several Native Arts + Cultures Foundation artists are featured in a recent ARTnews roundup of Native women artists to know. Their work embodies Indigenous creativity, cultural resilience, and narrative change: ➕ Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo) – A 2013 NACF Artist Fellow, Rose’s striking ceramics and mixed-media sculptures explore identity, transformation, and self-determination. @rosebsimpson ➕ Sydney Akagi (Tlingit) – A 2022 NACF LIFT awardee, Sydney’s project reclaims and reimagines Tlingit visual storytelling, pushing against imposed narratives. @sydneyakagi ➕ Lehuauakea (Kanaka Maoli) – A 2022 NACF LIFT awardee, Lehuauakea’s E Hoʻāla Ka Lupe: To Awaken the Kite revives traditional kapa kites, reconnecting Hawaiian youth with ancestral knowledge. @lehuauakea ➕ Bernice Akamine (1949–2024, Native Hawaiian) – A 2015 NACF Native Hawaiian Artist Fellow, Bernice’s installations confronted colonial legacies and uplifted Native Hawaiian voices. ➕ Dyani White Hawk (Sičáŋǧu Lakota) – A 2015 NACF Upper Midwest Artist Fellow and 2017 NACF Mentor Artist Fellow, Dyani’s mixed-media works weave Lakota aesthetics into contemporary art, shifting dominant narratives. @dwhitehawk ➕ Melissa Cody (Navajo) – A 2018 NACF National Artist Fellow, Melissa’s vibrant, intricate weavings carry forward the legacy of Navajo textile art while defying expectations. @codyedgewater These artists are expanding Indigenous storytelling, strengthening cultural expression, and challenging harmful narratives—aligning with NACF’s mission to support self-determined Native creativity. ++++ Article: https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/native-american-women-artists-to-know-1234737094/athena-latocha/ #IndigenousArt #NativeArtists #NACF (fb)
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28
4.5
Portland
About the organization
- A20, W99 -
Transforming CommunityThrough Native Arts Introducing the Native Arts Cultures Foundations Quarterly Magazine. Were launching something new. A space for Indigenous artists curators and thinkers to share their stories ideas and creative visions. This March our first issue debuts during the Heard Museum Indian Fair Market at the Phoenix Art Museum featuring essays and reflections from some of the most compelling voices in Native arts and cultures today.
Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose Public, Society Benefit - Multipurpose & Other N.E.C.
