Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship Award Grant

Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Region 2 Arts Council
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: December 09, 2025

Summary

The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship Award, funded by the Region 2 Arts Council, provides $5,000 to support an Indigenous artist in Minnesota. This fellowship aims to nurture artistic growth and innovation while promoting the cultural heritage of the Anishinaabe community. Eligible applicants must be Indigenous artists residing in specific Minnesota counties and meet various criteria, including compliance with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. The fellowship encourages exploration, collaboration, and depth in artistic endeavors.

Overview

Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the McKnight Foundation to provide unfettered funding to one individual Indigenous artist to fuel his/her art in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Lake of the Woods, Becker, Roseau, Cass, and Itasca counties in Minnesota. Applications will be scored on the artistic quality of the work, the artistic merit of the artist, and on the proposal. The goal of the annual Region 2 Arts Council AAI Fellowship Program is to assist the region’s most talented artists who are enrolled tribal members and descendants, in furthering and innovating their work by awarding substantial financial support to fund creative time and/or arts experiences that facilitate depth and advancement in their art form. Through such support, the R2AC aims to raise the profile of artistic work in the region and create a strong community of Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellows. Each fellow’s artwork will be featured on our website. The funds can be used for, but not limited to: Exploring new directions or continuing work in progress Production costs, materials, or equipment Marketing your work Travel, research or study to further your art Collaborative or community projects Funding Typically one $5,000 award will be granted.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The applicant complies with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and is only promoting their art as Native American/Indian art if they are a member of a federally recognized tribe, or an individual certified as an Indian artisan by a federally recognized tribe.The applicant must be 21 years of age or older and be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident alien status.The applicant is a resident of the state of Minnesota, as determined by the address I use for voting and the payment of taxes, and I live in one of the following counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, or Roseau for at least six months out of the year and do not intend to use Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant funds to relocate my legal address outside of the state of Minnesota or the counties listed above.The applicant is established residency in one of the following counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, or Roseau at least six months prior to the deadline/submission date for this grant.The applicant has submitted and received approval for all Final Reports for any past Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant, Individual Artist Grant, Artist Support Grant, R2AC Artist Fellowship, or Arts & Cultural Heritage Grant for Individual Artists that has been received from R2AC.

Ineligibility

The applicant is not enrolled as a full or part-time student in my artistic discipline at any college, university, or trade school.The applicant is not seeking funding for classes, workshops or projects resulting in academic credit, tuition for academic coursework, teaching licensure, or continuing education requirements (CEUs) to retain teaching licensure.This request is not intended to cover funding deficiencies in a project that was already completed or to cover purchases made prior to the proposed start date. The applicant is not a current member of the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Council, the R2AC board or staff, or a member of their immediate family.The proposed project or activity does not proselytize a belief or involve the religious socialization of the audience or participants.The proposed project or activity is not intended to raise funds for an organization, charity, or cause or to start or build an endowment. The applicant cannot seek to fund a project or activity that will occur at their place of employment.The applicant cannot seek funding for the same proposed project as another applicant in an effort to obtain more funding for the project from R2AC.