Fellowship for Native American Visual Artists
In July 2017, Ucross announced a new initiative to support the work of contemporary Native American visual artists at all stages in their professional careers. The Ucross Fellowship for Native American Visual Artists is open to disciplines that include but are not limited to painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, performance art, installation, ceramics, and collaborative projects involving multiple disciplines.
“The High Plains setting of Ucross is particularly fitting for such a fellowship initiative. In recent years Ucross has directed significant energy toward broadening the cultural reach and depth of our visual arts program. Thanks to the support of the Ucross Board of Trustees, which has begun an endowment for this new Fellowship, we are excited to support the work of Native American visual artists.” — Ucross President & Executive Director Sharon Dynak
Funding for the first two years of the fellowship (2018-2019) was provided in large part by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. In 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) granted Ucross funds to continue the program for visual artists and expand its reach to include Native American writers.
Fellowship for Native American Visual Writers
In 2020, following the success of its Fellowship for Native American Visual Artists, Ucross launched a similar opportunity for Native American writers at all stages in their professional careers. The Ucross Fellowship for Native American Writers is open to practicing writers who are currently producing work in one or more of the following genres — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, screenwriting, playwriting, or hybrid forms.
Two Ucross Fellowships for Native American Writers are awarded each year. Those selected for the fellowship are offered a four-week residency, a stipend of $2,000, and an opportunity to present work publicly.