Native Performing Arts Live Production Grant (LPG)

The Native Performing Arts Live Production Grant (LPG) supports Native artists and organizations in staging live performances, fostering cultural expression. With a $30,000 grant for one year, this initiative prioritizes projects that actively engage Native performers, enhancing their artistic skills and community connections. By addressing the unique needs of Native creators, the program aims to empower them with resources, mentorship, and equitable opportunities in the performing arts landscape.

About the Native Performing Arts Program
First Peoples Fund’s Native Performing Arts Program is designed to support Native performing artists—emerging and established—in developing and enhancing their artistic skills and knowledge in their performance craft. The program strives to provide Native performing artists more equitable access to the resources they need to enhance their creations and careers. This includes funding, mentoring, financial capability, and business development training aligned with their cultural values.
Our focus on this work originates from and is informed by our past work with Native performing artists and key findings from our 2022 Brightening the Spotlight report:Current funding and presenting opportunities do not meet the needs of many Native creators.
Native creators want and deserve to work with partners who treat them as professionals and who trust in their creative decision-making.
Over half of the interviewees recommend that more Natives and culturally knowledgeable non-Natives be involved in funding decisions.
Native creators do more than perform. Native creators play a wide range of roles in their communities, keeping traditions alive, promoting health and economic opportunities and educating non-Native audiences
The Native Performing Arts Live Production Grant (LPG) program supports Native-led live performing events and performances that include multiple Native performers and artists. “Live Production” means the artist(s) are actively engaged in creating a live performance, either in person or virtually. Live Productions can include: Original or re-adapted theatrical plays, 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 LPG Grant offers a one-year $30,000 grant to individual Native performing artists and Native-led performing arts organizations/businesses/collectives with experience presenting live productions. LPG is intended to support live productions in the ACTIVE stages of production.

Eligibility

Native artists or Native-led performing arts organizations/businesses/collectives (nonprofit or for-profit)
Must be U.S.-based and 18+ years old
Must provide documentation of tribal enrollment, descent, or ancestry (U.S. federally/state-recognized tribes, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian). More information HERE.

Ineligibility

Film productions, either short or full-length feature, are NOT eligible at this time.Current students in degree-conferring programs
2025 NPA Live Production grantees may not reapply in 2026
Applicants with previous FPF grants must have submitted final reportsProjects still in the writing or workshop stage
Film projects (short or full-length)
Multiple applications to the Performing Arts Program (choose one: LPG or Fellowship)

Individual Native artists or Native-led organizations, businesses or collectives (nonprofit or for-profit); U.S.-based, 18+, tribal enrollment documentation or proof of Native ancestry; mid-career with demonstrated experience producing/presenting live work; lead applicant must be Native. Only one application to the Performing Arts Program.