2025 Native Performing Arts Production Grant Application

First Peoples Fund Overview  

Founded in 1995, First Peoples Fund is guided by our belief in Collective Spirit. Collective Spirit is a commitment to nurture our shared humanity and honor our connection to one another, the lands around us, those who came before us, and the spirit of all things. The Collective Spirit moves each of us to stand up and make a difference, pass on ancestral knowledge, and extend a hand of generosity. The Collective Spirit is essential to sustaining the cultural fabric of Native communities and our ability to thrive. Our mission is to honor and support the Collective Spirit of First Peoples artists and culture bearers. Our work recognizes the power of art and culture to bring about positive change in Native communities, beginning with individual artists and their families. 

2025 NATIVE PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTION GRANT GUIDELINES 

The Native Performing Arts Production Grant (NPAP) is a year-long program that supports Native-led performing arts productions that include multiple Native performers and artists. “Production” means the artist(s) are actively engaged in the creation of a live piece of work, either in person or virtual. Productions can include: Theatrical plays, Indigenous fashion shows, touring for Native performance groups, performances taking place in Native communities, and other forms of live performance that may not fit into conventional performance categories (such as  music festivals, concerts, and fairs).  

The NPAP Grant offers a one-year $30,000 grant to Native performing artists or Native-led organizations/businesses each year. The grant's purpose is to develop independent, satisfied, and credible Native performing artists/organizations, who are generous in spirit and their craft to cultivate Native led productions that share their knowledge and gifts with Native and Non-Native audiences. Applications are open to individual artists at all stages of their career. Native-Led organizations and businesses with an emphasis on Performing Arts are encouraged to apply as well.

The NPAP Grant is for projects that are in Active stages of production. Proposed projects that are still in pre-production or in development will not be considered.  Proposed budgets should be grounded in needs and goals to ensure a production is completed.  Consider what resources you will need in order to produce your intended project, and what you will be able to accomplish with the grant funding provided.  Examples of projects can include (but are not limited to): Staging a play, hosting a music event, choreographing a dance piece, collaborating with other artists for a live performance, etc.

Examples of production needs to consider for your proposed project can include (but are not limited to):  Cost associated with hosting virtual or in-person gatherings such as venue fees, catering, AV equipment rental, and travel stipends, Artists’ salaries, contractor fees, rental costs for rehearsals,  hiring light and sound engineers, working with a tour manager or producer to tour,  insurance costs for talent and venues, advertising online, by print, or on social media for projects, equipment costs (microphones, speakers, etc.).

This grant is a one-year program and we expect that your application clearly details your proposed production within a one-year timeframe.     

PRODUCTION GRANT INFORMATION

Grant amount: $30,000.     

• 90% (or $27,000) will be disbursed once initial paperwork and orientation measures are completed.
• The remaining 10% (3,000) will be disbursed in December 2025 upon completion of closing measures. 

Award year: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. 

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Applicants must be an enrolled member of, or provide proof of lineal descendancy from, a U.S. federally-recognized or U.S. state-recognized tribe, or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.
• Native practitioners of all performing arts mediums and Native-led organizations with emphasis on performing arts are welcome to apply. This includes theater, music, dance, theater, music, spoken word and more, in both traditional and contemporary forms.
• Native led organizations can be non-profit or for profit.
• Proposed projects must be in the ACTIVE stage of production i.e. budget must reflect needs that are related to production costs.  
• Artists and Organizations may not apply to the same program in succession. For example, if you are a 2025 NPAP Awardee, you are not eligible to re-apply to the NPAP grant in 2026.
• If you are a previous grantee with First Peoples Fund (FPF), you must have submitted a final report for any previously awarded FPF Grants.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

A completed Production Grant application includes:

1. Application 
2. Proof of Tribal Affiliation
3. Two Letters of Reference (Examples: Professional or community reference)
4. Project/ Production Budget
5. Artist Statement (Individual applicant) or Mission Statement (Organization applicant)
6. Resume (Individual applicant)
7. Performance Work Samples (5 to 10 examples of your recent performance work as an Individual OR of your recent events as an Organization)
8. Description of Work Samples 
9. One high-quality photograph of yourself or your organization, either a professional headshot or a clear picture of your performing/creating your art medium. If selected, this image may be used for FPF promotion and announcement materials. 

WORK SAMPLES

• You may upload video, audio, and/or photo files, or a document listing links to files. Please limit video and audio files to no longer than two minutes or indicate a two minute section for each sample that the selection committee should review. Your Description of Artwork Samples should include the following for each file: a) Title; b) Medium; c) Year Created; d) Timestamps for section of the submitted file for selection committee to review (if applicable). If submitted audio/video examples are longer than two minutes and no specific times are called out for review, the selection committee will only review the first two minutes.   
• If you are applying as an Individual, please submit samples and descriptions of your own performance work.  
• If you are applying as an Organization, please submit samples and descriptions of your organization's work.

TIMELINE

• Application Opens: August 26th, 2024
• Application Closes: September 23rd, 2024

SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT: Applicants will be notified in December 2024

QUESTIONS?

Contact Natalie Benally, Program Manager of Performing Arts, with any questions by calling 505-278-0412 or via email at: natalie@firstpeoplesfund.org.