NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program

::   PROGRAM OVERVIEW
::   EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS This Program has been discontinued. No applications are being accepted.
          - FUNDING AREA
          - ELIGIBLITY
          - EXCLUSIONS
          - SELECTION CRITERIA
          - TIMETABLE AND REPORTING
          - HOW TO APPLY
          - NARRATIVE QUESTIONS (EXHIBITIONS)
          - NARRATIVE QUESTIONS (PUBLICATIONS)
          - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
          - APPLICATION (PDF)
::   Expressive Arts This Program has been discontinued. No applications are being accepted.
::   Artist Leadership Program
::   Award Recipients

FUNDING AREA: EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

The Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program includes awards to support exhibitions, installations, publications, and critical writing, which should interpret and present the work of contemporary Native visual artists to the public and encourage dialogue and critical commentary. The awards are competitive, selected by application only. The selection panel will include NMAI staff and outside experts in the contemporary art field. At least one-half of the proposed project team (artists, authors, curators, etc.) must be Native American or Native Hawaiian.

The amount of each award will be $7,500–$15,000 per project. Awards may be used toward artist, curator, or author fees; or costs such as shipping, printing, reproduction rights, and exhibit materials. Project budgets must show a minimum 50 percent match by the applicant organization or other anticipated sources.

The credit line “Support provided by the Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program, National Museum of the American Indian” must be included in all publicity and written materials. The NMAI is able to present this opportunity for creative artists thanks to generous support from the Ford Foundation’s IllumiNation program. A mid-term and final report are required.

Applicants may apply to one of the following areas:

  1. Exhibitions: Awards for original exhibitions and/or installations (including installation art) of contemporary Native American art in the United States at not-for-profit venues.

  2. Publications: Awards for publications and critical writing on contemporary Native art subjects, including, but not limited to, exhibition catalogs, special editions of journals, etc.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Awards are given to nonprofit or education-based organizations. Applicants must submit proof that they are one of these types of organizations. Individuals and unincorporated groups may only apply through an eligible nonprofit organization (fiscal sponsorship). Eligible applicants may include community art centers, artist-run or nonprofit galleries, museums, arts organizations, and education-based organizations, such as college or university galleries or museums.

EXCLUSIONS

Publication awards may not be used for research and development; they may be used for author or editing fees, printing, reproduction costs, and other expenses related directly to production and distribution.

Exhibitions awards are for exhibitions organized by the applicant organization and may not be used to host traveling exhibitions from other organizations.

The award may not cover entertainment (i.e., reception costs), postage, advertising, travel, operating expenses, competitions, festivals, craft fairs or markets, or fundraising.

SELECTION CRITERIA

TIMETABLE AND REPORTING

2011
Application receipt deadline:  January 14, 2011
Awards announced:  March 15, 2011
Award period:  May 1, 2011–April 30, 2012
Mid-term report due:  December 30, 2011
Final report due:  May 31, 2012

Questions about your application?
Contact Kathleen Ash-Milby, associate curator for contemporary arts, at ashmilbyk@si.edu.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Three (3) copies of the completed Application Cover Sheet and the following support material must be received by January 14, 2011.

  1. Narrative description of project (1000 words max./12-pt. font size), with complete answers to attached Exhibitions or Publications questions.
  2. Budget
  3. Biographies (300 words each, max.) and résumés (2-page max.) of principle participants listed on Cover Sheet. Include documentation of participant tribal affiliation as applicable;
  4. Supporting materials:
    Twelve images: A total of ten (10) images of participating artists’ previous work and one to two (1-2) images of the exhibition facility (for exhibitions) or ten (10) images of selected illustrations for the proposed publication. Images must be in digital format on CD-Rom. PowerPoint is preferred. Please include complete caption information with each image in the PowerPoint presentation.
    No more than twelve (12) images are accepted per application.

    For Publications only: copies of three (3) previously published essays or articles by the primary author; for books, complete citations and sample chapters accepted.
  5. Evaluation Plan

Electronic applications and faxes will not be accepted.

Do not bind your applications. Please use only staples, clips, or paperclips. Label your CDs and all supplemental material with your organization name.

Please send three (3) complete copies of the application and supporting materials to the following address. You will receive an email confirmation of your application receipt.

K. Ash-Milby
NMAI–Smithsonian Institution
George Gustav Heye Center
One Bowling Green
New York, NY 10004-1415

 

APPLICATION NARRATIVE QUESTIONS FOR EXHIBITIONS

  1. Narrative Overview
    Include a discussion of the participating artist(s) and their work.

  2. Dates of Exhibition

  3. Location/Venue
    Describe the location or venue for the exhibition. Is it free and accessible to the public?
    Include a list of previous exhibitions.

  4. Audience/Promotion
    Describe the audience for your project. Note special plans, if any, for marketing and promotion.

  5. Publication
    Please describe any plans for publishing a catalog or any other supporting material.
    Will this publication be free? If not, what is the suggested sales price?

  6. Finances
    Describe specific plans for funding this project. Indicate other sources expected.

  7. Artists’ Fees
    Provide the payment schedule for artists, curators, etc.

 

APPLICATION NARRATIVE QUESTIONS FOR PUBLICATIONS

  1. Editorial Overview

  2. Publication Schedule

  3. Background
    Describe the press or publisher, and the type of previous titles or work published.

  4. Audience/Promotion
    Describe the audience for your publication. Note special plans, if any, for marketing and promotion.

  5. Print Runs
    What is the print run for this publication?

  6. Finances
    Describe specific plans for funding this publication. Indicate other sources or grants expected.

  7. Pricing
    Will there be a charge for the publication?

  8. Artists’ Fees
    Provide the payment schedule for editors, authors, etc.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EXHIBITIONS
May I include ten (10) images per artist in my exhibition proposal?
No. Applicants are allowed a maximum of twelve (12) images per application. If you submit more than the maximum number, only 12 will be shown to the selection committee or your application may be disqualified.

We are proposing an original exhibition that will travel. Is it eligible for this program?
Yes. If the applicant is the organizer of a new exhibition that will travel to other venues, it is eligible. If the applicant only wants to host a previously organized exhibition from another organization, it is ineligible for this program.

I have a video/DVD presentation about the artists. Can I submit this instead of images?
No. We prefer still images so that all applications are reviewed equally. The Selection Panel cannot spend extra time to view videos for some applications. For video or media-based art, video stills may be submitted as part of the twelve (12) allowed images.


PUBLICATIONS

I am an artist who would like to have my work published. Can I apply to this program for funds to publish my own work?
The program is designed to promote the presentation and interpretation of contemporary Native American art. If your publication includes critical interpretation, it could be eligible. If your work is included only as illustrations (to a children’s book, or book of poetry, for example), it is not eligible for this program.

I need funding to complete my dissertation. Can I apply?
No. The program is not meant to support dissertation or thesis research or writing.


GENERAL QUESTIONS: EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
I only have photocopies of the artist's work. Is this okay?
No. In order to fully understand the nature and quality of the artist’s work, and to be sure it is fairly represented to the Selection Panel, you must submit good resolution, color images. Digital images are preferred. Color slides or prints are acceptable.

What are the image specifications?
Please use JPEG, GIF, or TIF files. If possible, please organize your images in a PowerPoint presentation.

What should be included in the mid-term report?

What should be included in the final report?