New Report from Ford on Funding Native Art and Culture

(7-9-10) This report, Native Arts and Cultures: Research, Growth and Opportunities for Philanthropic Support issued by the Ford Foundation, is “a guide to those interested in funding and supporting Native arts and cultures and in collaborating with Native communities.” It serves as a summary of the efforts by Elizabeth Theobald Richards to carry out the Indigenous Knowledge and Culture grant-making initiative from 2003-2009.

“Over the course of the initiative’s duration, the grantees not only were positioned to build the capacity of their arts and culture organizations but also played a vital role in enhancing the recognition of the value of Native American arts communities to the larger cultural landscape.” During this time, three research reports were developed , which pointed at “the inadequacy of philanthropic support for Native arts and artists, and also acknowledged that the support Native arts and artists do receive goes a long way.” This research eventually led to the development of the Native Arts & Cultures

Foundation in 2007.