The Native Arts + Cultures Foundation’s (NACF) **SHIFT – Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts** program empowers artists, curators, and community collaborators to address social change issues through a Native lens. The program supports innovative community-driven projects created in partnership with an organization that uplift Native communities, promote self-determination, and drive transformative change, paving the way for a resilient and thriving Indigenous future.

SHIFT focuses on efforts grounded in community cultural assets, resilience, and strengths, drawing increased attention to Native communities, perspectives, and challenges while shifting narratives of invisibility, misunderstanding, and misappropriation. The program encourages bold, expansive projects that promote cultural sovereignty, foster intergenerational knowledge-sharing, advance healing and well-being, advocate for environmental justice, and challenge systemic power structures.

Now in its third iteration, SHIFT provides multi-year support, including $100,000 two-year awards, professional development, project evaluation, documentation, and marketing support. This comprehensive framework enables artists, collectives, and curators to develop impactful projects that engage broader audiences, while deepening their practice, fostering collboration, and inspiring transformative dialogue on both national and global issues.

We encourage Native artists, art collectives, and curators with experience in community-focused work—especially those building upon community strengths and partnering with organizations for project development and presentation—to apply.

  
Award period: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2027

**FINANCIAL RESOURCES:** A two-year award totaling $100,000, with $50,000 earmarked for the lead artist’s or curator’s compensation and the remaining funds for project production.

**PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:** Awardees will participate in workshops and training sessions to enhance skills in areas such as financial management, legacy planning, project development, and community engagement.

**EVALUATION:** NACF will help define project deliverables, track progress, and complete internal and external grant reports. Project leadership will participate in regular check-ins and provide project documentation, a mid-year report, and a final report detailing the project’s development and outcomes.

**COMMUNICATIONS and MARKETING SUPPORT:** NACF will amplify the project’s visibility through social media and e-communications. Additionally, we will help document the project through photography and videography when possible and appropriate.

**ADVOCACY:** NACF will assist awardees in presenting their work at relevant conferences and public events, to provide a platform for conversation around the impacts of their projects and Native voices to effect change around vital issues.

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