Creative Copy (CC) is a service offered by the Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB). Through CC, WAB distributes resource guides to artists and arts organizations via an e-newsletter, and maintains these guides in an online archive. If you think we missed something, or if you have a question, email vivienne.timchenko@wisconsin.gov. If you haven't already, make sure to join our email list to receive CC and other WAB resources!
The photo above shows FY26 FAA Mentor Artist April Stone's apprentice Dawn White removing ash bark in the winter, which will later be used to make Black Ash baskets.
"This freshly harvest ash log needed to have its bark removed with a drawknife due to being harvested when the tree was dormant. Dawn was a taking a turn removing some bark on this chilly, wintry/rainy day." - April Stone
Indigenous Artist Resources
There are twelve tribal communities that share boundaries with the State of Wisconsin, eleven of which are federally recognized. With deep respect for the Indigenous people and cultures that strengthen Wisconsin, we've compiled a resource guide specifically for Indigenous Artists. The Wisconsin Arts Board shares the resources below in hopes of helping connect artists to organizations previously unknown to them. Other than the WAB grant programs and resources, WAB is not directly affiliated with any opportunities/festivals/resources listed on this page. Please note that eligibility and compliance with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act may vary.
Thanks to help from our very own Kaitlyn Berle, Folk and Traditional Arts Specialist at the Wisconsin Arts Board, and Board Member Karen Ann Hoffman, this is a lengthy guide! Our friends at Travel Wisconsin have also compiled a story to help folks visit and learn about the 11 federally recognized Native American Tribes in Wisconsin.
Organizations Offering Fellowships, Grants, and Other Support for Indigenous Artists
National Endowment for the Arts: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent U.S. federal agency that funds, promotes, and supports artistic excellence and access to the arts nationwide.
Native Arts and Culture: In response to President Biden’s January 26, 2021 Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships the National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to share its Tribal Consultation Policy. The policy is in keeping with the NEA draft Plan of Action for Tribal Consultation, which was informed by a tribal consultation call on April 7, 2021, and was informed by ongoing agency engagement with Native artists, organizations, and cultural leaders.
First Peoples Fund: Provides many resources, including fellowships and professional development workshops. A few of these resources are listed below:
Native Artist Professional Development: Offer two-day (8 hours/day) workshops in communities everywhere, designed to give artists real-world tools and detailed resources to navigate the arts industry and become successful entrepreneurs.
Artists in Business Leadership Fellowship: The ABL Fellowship supports independent Native artists who leverage artmaking to build or grow a business to support themselves and their families. This self-directed year-long fellowship includes network-building opportunities, professional development guidance, and grant funding for business needs. Offers $10,000 in grant funding towards a proposed project that supports the artist or culture bearer's work in their community.
Cultural Capital Fellowship: The CC Fellowship offers $10,000 in grant funding to artists and culture bearers to support their cultural work in their community through the arts. This fellowship is open to artists at any stage of their career.
Native Performing Arts Fellowship: The NPA Fellowship supports Native performing artists, emerging and established, to develop and enhance their skills and knowledge of their craft, providing grants of up to $10,000 for Native individuals who practice/work within the performing arts landscape (theater, dance, music, etc.).
Community Spirit Award: The program offers grants of $50,000 to Native artists who have worked selflessly throughout their lives to share their cultural knowledge and ancestral gifts with their communities. The award is designed to support these essential bearers of cultural practice to carry forward their wisdom and help Native communities heal and thrive.
Native Arts & Cultures Foundation: The Native Arts + Cultures Foundation advances equity and cultural knowledge, focusing on the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the United States.
Resources for Artists: Check to see what resources are available for Wisconsin-based artists.
The LIFT–Early Career Support for Native Artists program: A one-year award for emerging Native artists to develop and realize new projects. LIFT provides a comprehensive suite of services, including $15,000 awards, artist professional development, mentorship, project evaluation, documentation, and communications/marketing support – designed to nurture the growth and potential of emerging Native artists as they refine their craft, advance their careers, and establish their place as vital creative voices in their communities. – April 2026 Deadline
The SHIFT – Transformative Change and Indigenous Art 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 provides multi-year support, including $100,000 two-year awards, professional development, project evaluation, documentation, and marketing support. – May 2026 Deadline
NDN Collective: NDN Collective provides the most ambitious systemic approach to empowering Indigenous communities in the history of philanthropy and impact investing.
Changemaker Fellowship: The fellowship provides direct support to 21 individual Indigenous Changemakers’ vision, personal and professional development, and leadership.
Community Action Fund: A grant for Indigenous frontline organizations, groups, and individuals for direct action initiatives.
UCross Foundation: The mission of Ucross Foundation is to foster the creative spirit of deeply committed artists and groups by providing uninterrupted time, studio space, living accommodations, and the experience of the majestic High Plains while serving as a responsible steward of its historic 20,000-acre ranch.
Fellowship for Native American Visual Artists: The open call for applications for Spring 2026 (January through early June) will open May 1, 2025, with a deadline of July 15, 2025. The open call for applications for Fall 2026 (August through early December) is open from November 1 to January 15.
Eiteljorg Museum: The Eiteljorg Museum explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America.
Contemporary Art Fellowship: Each Fellowship, the Eiteljorg Museum honors a selection of fellowship artists (Fellows) and an invited artist for their contributions to the world of Native contemporary art. Support includes: monetary grants, purchasing art for the permanent collection, and sharing their art and stories worldwide.
Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, & Museums (ATALM): ATALM is an international non-profit organization that maintains a network of support for Indigenous programs, provides culturally relevant programming and services, encourages collaboration among tribal and non-tribal cultural institutions, and articulates contemporary issues related to developing and sustaining the cultural sovereignty of Native Nations.
First Nations Development Institute: Provides direct financial grants, technical assistance & training, and advocacy & policy for Native Americans.
Indigenous Nations Poets: A national Indigenous poetry community committed to mentoring emerging writers, nurturing the growth of Indigenous poetic practices, and raising the visibility of all Native Writers past, present, and future.
Organizations and Resources Supporting Indigenous People in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Arts Board: The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage.
Woodland Indian Arts Grant Program: The Woodland Indian Arts Program (WIA) is designed to promote and develop a foundation of cultural and economic support for traditional and contemporary Native American arts in Wisconsin. As part of this work, the Arts Board annually distributes funds from Gaming Compact monies to support artistic activities among Wisconsin's tribes, bands and urban Indian communities.
Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program: Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeships are designed to strengthen and encourage the continuity of Wisconsin's diverse cultural traditions by supporting exemplary traditional artists and culture bearers in passing their skills and knowledge on to committed and talented apprentices.
Funding Opportunities, Residencies, Open Calls: We gather and regularly update this list of funding opportunities for artists in Wisconsin.
Emergency/Disaster Readiness & Recovery for Wisconsin's Arts Industry: Natural disasters, emergencies, and critical life events can affect anyone, and leave effects that can reverberate for days, weeks, months, or even years throughout affected lives and communities. Artists, cultural institutions, arts administrators, and arts organizations can all be impacted by these types of extreme events, so we've compiled this resource guide to help.
Oneida Nation Arts Program (ONAP): The Oneida Nation Arts Program mission is to promote diverse artistic expression within the community reflecting our heritage and spirit of future generations.
Dollars for Art Program: The Dollars for Art Program (DAP) was created in 1999 with a continuing grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB). DAP Grants are awarded for artistic endeavors and projects in both traditional and contemporary styles of visual arts, literature, music, theatre, and dance. DAP has funded over 266 arts projects to 130 unique artists, arts organizations, and community groups. The grant application deadline is the 4th Friday of July every year. All activities must occur between October 1st of the current year through 4th Friday of July, the following year.
Oneida Nation National Treasure Award Program: The Oneida Nation National Treasure Award honors individuals and groups whose work has helped preserve, protect, and promote Oneida arts, language, and culture. This prestigious recognition celebrates those who have made lasting contributions to our community through artistic excellence, cultural leadership, advocacy, education, and service.
Woodland Indian Art: A non-profit organization created to expand the awareness and appreciation of Woodland Indian art and culture through education, events and markets.
Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF): A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting American Indian art by cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit of American Indian and First Nations artists to achieve success and promote a cycle of economic security.
Indigenous Art Events in Wisconsin
LEAF Native Art Market (first weekend in August): On the first weekend in August each year, Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF) and Taliesin Preservation co-host Native Art Marketplace — a free weekend event dedicated to Indigenous art, culture, and community. Spread throughout American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin and the Hillside school and theater, the gathering brings together LEAF teaching and exhibiting artists, performers, and educators to share stories, traditions, and creative practices. From the initial greetings to the final notes on stage, the days unfold as a series of powerful exchanges.
Red Magic Art Festival (August + Holiday Market in December) : The largest Native American Art Festival in the state of Wisconsin and dedicated to the advancement of Native American arts, artists, culture & community. It generally takes place in August each year. There is also a Red Magic Holiday Market taking place on Sunday, December 19th, 2026 in Milwaukee.
2nd Annual Native Heritage Celebration (September 18, 2026): Wisconsin has one of the largest concentrations of Native American Tribes east of the Mississippi River, and each has a distinct culture and rich heritage. To celebrate and honor this rich history and culture, the Marcus Performing Arts Center will present its second Native Heritage Celebration on Friday, September 18, 2026.
Indian Summer Fall Festival Fundraiser (September 26 - 27): A two-day celebration of Indigenous culture, and a preview of the full Indian Summer Festival returning to the Milwaukee area in 2027.
ALL Native Art Market (November 14, 2026): The 2026 Native Art Market, founded and curated by Dakota Mace and Paige Skenandore, will take place at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10am-5pm. 40+ Native artists will share and sell their work throughout the galleries and education studio. Work will span a wide range of traditional and contemporary art forms including Indigenous beadwork, quillwork, weaving, leather work, metals, basketry, clothing, and more.
General Artist Resources
CERF+: For 40 years, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund has provided emergency relief for craft artists.
Get Ready Grants: CERF+ offers Get Ready Grants, providing craft artists with grants up to $1,000 for activities to safeguard their studios, protect their practices, and prepare for emergencies. Priority is given to applicants that have been underrepresented in the craft community including BIPOC and folk/traditional artists.
Emergency Relief Grants: Note that this program has been temporarily suspended until October 1, 2026.
Arts Midwest: Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates arts organizations and creative communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond.
Springboard for the Arts: Springboard for the Arts' mission is to support artists with the tools to make a living and a life, and to build just and equitable communities full of meaning, joy, and connection.