2025 shift : transformative change and indigenous arts

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