First Peoples Fund Fellowships

First Peoples Fund supports KNOWING our history and ourselves, HONORING our ancestors and relations, and SHARING our stories and knowledge. Our mission is to honor and support the Collective Spirit of First Peoples Fund artists and culture bearers. Our work recognizes the power of art and culture to bring about positive change in Native communities, beginning with individual artists and their families.

The Artists in Business Leadership (ABL) and Cultural Capital (CC) Fellowships partner with Native artists and culture bearers to strengthen their business skills and ensure that art, culture, and ancestral knowledge are shared from one generation to the next. Fellows receive a $7500 - $10,000 project grant, technical support, and professional training to start or grow an arts business and to further their essential work in their communities. Twenty-five (25) will be selected for the 12-month fellowship programs and receive a $7500 - $10,000 project grant, technical support and professional training to start or grow an arts business and to further their important work in their communities.

2023 Fellowship Awards

• 24-26 fellowship awards
• Award Amount: $7,500-$10,000

Application Dates

• Opening date: June 03, 2022
• Closing date: August 5, 2022, 11:59 MT

Which Fellowship is RIght for You?
Is your project goal to grow your business?
The Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship Program is a self-directed fellowship that provides professional development training and $7,500+ of working capital funds. ABL fellows propose a one-year project(s) that will strengthen their art business, further the economic self-sufficiency of their family, and establish themselves as independent and credible artists.
Is your project goal to work with your community?
The Cultural Capital Fellowship Program is a project-based grant designed for artists interested in community outreach and cultural preservation. Fellows in this program are given a $5,000+ grant to further the important cultural work in their community through the arts. For some, this may mean providing community art classes or mentoring some promising emerging artists. For others, it may be working with traditional language speakers or cultural centers.