Submission Deadline: SHIFT – Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts

The only way to get change is not through the courts or—heaven forbid—the politicians, but through a change of human consciousness and through a change of heart. Only through the arts […] can we really reach each other.

― Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo)

EMPOWERMENT, ACTION, LIBERATION

The SHIFT – Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts program supports artist and community-driven projects responding to social, environmental or economic justice issues through a Native lens. The program focuses on efforts that are built upon community cultural assets, resilience and strengths and draw increased attention to Native communities, perspectives and challenges, shifting a national narrative of invisibility, misunderstanding and misappropriation. SHIFT provides invaluable resources for project development, production and presentation for the artists and their collaborators.

Resistance is its own reward.

– Haunani-Kay Trask (Native Hawaiian)

Following extensive research and strategic planning, SHIFT refocuses NACF’s programmatic efforts to embolden Native artists and stakeholder voices, to nurture their brilliance, to draw upon the resilience of our ancestors, to uplift the innovative spirit in our Native communities, and ultimately to foster education and healing for ourselves and our allies. NACF understands that the work of Native artists is critical to the greater contemporary arts discourse, the stewardship of our planet, and equity in our greater society. SHIFT then builds a more intensive body of support to limit constraints and provide crucial time and space for the realization of the artists’ work in partnership with other collaborators.

The program includes multi-year services for Native artists, cultural practitioners, and community partners, and allows for artists to consider more expansive projects and broad-based platforms for community engagement and presentation, while continuing to drive essential conversation on national and global issues.

We encourage artists who have experience developing projects that are focused on engaging communities and the public to address community issues; building upon community strengths; and partnering with organizations to develop and present the work to apply.

[See the NACF website for more details.]