Q&A

Over the last 20 years, many voices have called for a national fund to support Native arts and cultures. Demand is now urgent as elders are passing away before their traditional knowledge, cultural practices and artistic traditions are shared with younger generations.

As this spirited dialogue within Indian Country and the growing recognition of individual artists show, Native self-determination is on the rise. Along with this, awareness of the importance of retaining traditional knowledge is building. A cultural renaissance is taking place in Indian Country while market demand for Native art continues to grow.

The outcome of a decade of exploration and visioning, the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation will embody a holistic, long-term view to make a lasting positive impact on the arts, Native communities and society as a whole.
 

Since its inception in 2007, the Foundation has been focused on establishing a solid infrastructure and programmatic agenda. With its president and CEO on board, the board of trustees expect grant-making to begin in 2010.

The Foundation is dedicated to supporting, developing and revitalizing the diversity of artistic expression in American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities across the United States. This will be accomplished by providing direct funding for artists and organizations, supporting leadership, building capacity in the field and partnering with Native-led efforts to increase financial support.

The Foundation will not only support Native arts and cultures but will also stimulate tribal and Native philanthropic investment in the field by distributing direct grants to artists and organizations and leveraging resources through a broad range of philanthropic partnerships.
 

Led by Program Officer Elizabeth Theobald Richards (Cherokee), the Ford Foundation responded to the call for a Native arts fund by engaging in a deep consultative process within Indian Country.

In an extensive feasibility study, the Ford Foundation gathered information from a wide variety of leaders in the Native arts and cultures field. A leadership circle of four advisors—Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), Joy Harjo (Mvskoke/Creek), Jayne Fawcett (Mohegan) and Elizabeth Woody (Navajo/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama)—provided guidance as the study included observations from Ford Foundation grantee and other field gatherings, existing literature, and research on operational and financial models for philanthropies.
 

After an extensive and thorough national search, the Foundation’s board of trustees has recently announced Lulani Arquette to head the Foundation. With the president and CEO in place, the focus will now be to build a strong infrastructure and programmatic vision. The board of trustees expects grant-making to begin in 2010.

In 2007, the Ford Foundation made an initial commitment of $5 million to permanently endow the new Foundation. Ford plans to contribute an additional $5 million when $3 million has been raised from new partners.

The Wiyot Tribe and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation have both committed resources; Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has committed $1.5 million and has announced a matching grant of an additional $1.5 million.

The board is currently engaged in active fundraising with investment scenarios resulting in a permanent endowment of approximately $20 million–$25 million in the next five years and a plan to increase the permanent endowment to $50 million–$80 million in 20 years.
 

The Foundation received its 501(c)3 status in 2007.