
10 Indigenous artists/culture bearers of all traditions, mediums and genres will be awarded grants of $50,000.
EMBRACE THE RADICAL. Give breath to your imagination.
A whole story begins with one word. Words are the roots that bear the fruit of deeper meaning, messages and significance. Our Indigenous languages are embedded with such deep meaning-conveyed through each word. As Indigenous people, we share another common, yet foreign language. It too has its own way of conveying meaning and its own roots. ‘Radical’ may mean many things to many people, but its essence and its core requires us to get to the root of things. We’re now calling on those committed to getting to the root of things. To embrace the radical and give breath to your imagination.
Intent
As part of NDN Collective’s mission to Defend, Develop and Decolonize, Radical Imagination Artists and Culture Bearers will:

Mirror Shield Action, Cannupa Hanska Luger
Practice
Imagine and practice justice within their communities while working to rebuild and assemble a better world

Billboard by Gregg Deal
Amplify
Amplify community voices to counter inequitable systems, policies and practices
Propose
Propose solutions to dismantle structural racism through their art & creativity
Through artistic creativity, the hearts and minds of each artist will bring forward the new vision and new normal for just and equitable behaviors and structures, so that the dimensions of structural racism (culturally, historically, institutionally, politically and ideologically) are dismantled and a better world is rebuilt and assembled. As NDN Collective, we are unapologetically NDN. We believe in the power, the creativity, the audacity and the commitment of artists, culture bearers and designers to create and imagine new paths, new futures, and new worlds.
We invite you as Indigenous artists to imagine, design and create projects that propose solutions to our most intractable societal problems. Whether it be protecting the health and wellbeing of communities from the COVID-19 Pandemic, clean water, earth-centered economies, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, renewable energy or sustainable agriculture, or law enforcement reforms, we invite you to use your art and the Radical Imagination Artist grant as a platform to amplify your work as a viable solution.
GRANT DETAILS
Ten Indigenous artists/culture bearers of all traditions, mediums and genres will be awarded grants of $50,000. Artists may propose a one year budget that includes a living stipend, as well as support for the supplies and equipment necessary to publicly amplify the work and develop a community messaging platform. 12% of funds must also support artist self-care, health and well-being. Grant funds are considered taxable income and artists will be responsible for managing related income tax related standards. Artists must report and share their creative progress on a quarterly basis. Funds will be distributed in accordance with a 12-month work plan and projected budget.
Applicants must have demonstrated experience in producing or co-designing community art projects, managing funds and willingness to participate in broader community dialogue or participatory research.
The 2022 LOI submission period for Radical Imagination is closed until 2023
Full Grant Applications will be invited in late Spring 2022 based on review of Letters of Interest (LOI). Radical Imagination Artists will be selected in August 2022 with the new cohort of artists beginning September 1, 2022.
Apply in 2023
For More Information:
Radical Imagination Grant Overview (webinar)
General Grant Information
- Email: [email protected]
- NDN Office: (605) 791-3999
Technical Support
Grant Purpose & Content
- [email protected]
- [email protected] – Spanish Language Applicants
- [email protected] – French Language Applicants
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