The
Woodland Indian Arts Emergency Relief Fund supports
individual Native American artists* experiencing economic distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wisconsin Arts Board, with funding through the State of Wisconsin from Wisconsin Tribal Gaming Compact monies, will distribute grants of $250 to $500, based on the number of successful applicants.
The grant program addresses the urgent need for individual artist support. Due to limited funds and an anticipated high volume of applications, awardees will be selected through a computerized, randomized selection process, from the pool of eligible applicants. WAB staff will review all applications for eligibility.Grant funding may be used for basic expenses such as food, rent, medical costs, childcare, etc., or artistic supplies and materials, including those related to the development of skills or equipment that will enable applicants to transition their income-generating practices to virtual platforms or practices. The deadline to apply is
January 28, 2021.
Who Can Apply:
To be eligible for an emergency relief grant, the applicant must be:- an artist experiencing significant financial loss and/or hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- an artist who derives a significant part of their income from arts activities / creative work (i.e. performing, selling work, educating, etc. in any creative discipline);
- a resident of the state of Wisconsin and an enrolled member of one of the Tribal Nations of Wisconsin, or a Wisconsin resident certified as an ‘Indian artisan’ by one of the resident Tribal Nations of Wisconsin, per the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990; and
Ineligible Applicants:
- Artistic groups, ensembles, curators, producers, full-time educators or salaried employees, and faculty at colleges or universities.
- Students currently enrolled in a degree or certificate-granting educational program directly related to their art form at the time of application.
To Apply:
Submit a WIA Emergency Relief Fund application by January 28, 2021. Detailed guidance on completing and submitting the application is provided within the application form.
One application per applicant is permitted.
Timeline:
December 15, 2020 - Application opensJanuary 28, 2021, 11:59pm CT - Application deadlineFebruary 8, 2021 - Award notification*The Wisconsin Arts Board uses the term “artist” throughout the application. Please note that our use of this term includes traditional artists and culture bearers. Likewise, the terms “art” and “artistic” are also meant to include the work of culture bearers.
If you have any questions, please contact WAB's Folk & Traditional Arts Coordinator, Kaitlyn Berle at (608)266-8106 or
kaitlyn.berle@wisconsin.gov.
Resources for Grant Recipients: