A portrait of Native artist Chanelle Gallagher (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) throwing pottery in her studio.

Fellowships

Through grants and awards, FPF provides monetary support and connects Native artists and culture bearers with financial services and training to flourish as entrepreneurs and community leaders.

A white arrow pointing down.

PROGRAMS > FELLOWSHIPS

Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship

The Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship is a yearlong program that helps independent Native artists pursue art as a way to build a business to support themselves and their families. The program provides them with network-building, professional development training and funding to launch them into success.

A portrait of Native artist, Luzene Hill (Eastern Band of Cherokee), hanging art in a gallery space.
A portait of Native musician Shanon Two Shields Hale (Three Affiliated Tribes Mandan) standing on a bridge at sunset holding an acoustic guitar.
A portait of Caitlin Newago (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) harvesting birch bark in a forested area.

Each year, we select up to 30 Fellows, each of whom receives a $10,000 grant, technical assistance, and professional training to start or grow an arts business. This mentorship and support helps them cultivate more ways to share their knowledge and gifts with others in their communities. Applications are open to artists at all stages of their career.

All applicants must be enrolled tribe members or provide proof of lineal descendancy of a U.S. federally recognized tribe, a state recognized tribe, or be an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.

KEY INFORMATION

Approx 15 fellowships awarded annually

Award amount: $10,000

Applications window: July - August

ABL fellowship application

Cultural Capital Fellowship

The Cultural Capital Fellowship is a yearlong program that offers financial and technical support to culture bearers and artists to further their work of passing on ancestral knowledge within their Native communities.

A portrait of Native artist, Alison Bremner (Tlingit)
A portait of Native artist Deborah A. Jojola (Isleta and Jemez Pueblo) sitting inside a doorway to an old adobe dwelling.
A portait of Native artist Kelly Looking Horse (Oglala Lakota)

The CC Fellowship offers a $10,000 grant to up to 15 artists each year. Participants receive support to strengthen their community's commitment to nurture our shared humanity and honor our connection to one another, the lands around us, those who came before us and the spirit of all things - what we call the Collective Spirit.

Native artists and culture bearers who are deeply rooted in their communities and who are committed to passing on ancestral knowledge and cultural practices within their Native communities are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must be enrolled tribe members or provide proof of lineal descendancy of a U.S. federally recognized tribe, a state recognized tribe, or be an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.

KEY INFORMATION

15 fellowships awarded annually

Award amount: $10,000

Applications window: July - August

CC fellowship application

Determining your eligibility

To determine your eligibility, fill out the pre-questionnaire link below to establish which First Peoples Fund fellowship program is best for you:

pre-questionnaire form

faq

Can student work completed for academic credit or as part of an academically supported residency, fellowship, or project be submitted for consideration?
No.
Are members of a collective or community-based arts group eligible to apply?
No.
Can I apply for more than one First Peoples Fund fellowship per year?
No.

artist in business leadership Fellows

Immerse yourself in the Artist in Business Leadership Fellows Directory, a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of Native artists. Through the Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship program, these creative individuals receive grants, technical assistance, and professional training to evolve their passion into successful businesses. Explore their stories of  entrepreneurship, where creative practices become sustainable realities.

A close up photograph of a star quilt
SORT DIRECTORY BY:
NAMEYEAR

Cultural capital Fellows

Explore the Cultural Capital Fellows Directory, a showcase of devoted artists. This diverse community of Native creators, nurtured by the esteemed Cultural Capital Fellowship program, embodies the spirit of preserving traditions and nurturing shared humanity. Designed to empower Native culture bearers, this program offers invaluable support, including financial grants and professional development, to catalyze their journey in passing down ancestral knowledge. Discover their profound stories and the transformative power of cultural stewardship.

A close up photograph of a star quilt
SORT DIRECTORY BY:
NAMEYEAR