Native Arts and Cultures Foundation

Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
Formation	2008
Founded at	Vancouver, Washington
Legal status	active
Purpose	grassroots community organization and outreach to listen to and amplify the voices of the Native arts community
Location	Portland, Oregon;
Services	arts and culture fellowships
President and CEO	Shyla Spicer (Yakama)
Website	nativeartsandcultures.org

The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports Native American artists, culture bearers, and Native-led arts organizations, providing them with support through fellowships and project funding.^[2] This philanthropic organization exclusively supports American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and cultures in the United States.^[3]

NACF's president and CEO is Shyla Spicer, MBA, PMP (Yakama).^[4]

Founding and history

The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, founded in 2008, is funded by contributions from the public, foundations, corporations, and affiliated organizations. It was launched with a $10 million commitment from the Ford Foundation, following a feasibility study demonstrating the need and interest in such an endowment.^[5]^[6] The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians near Sacramento, California, committed an additional $1.5 million.^[7]

Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) was the founding Chairman of the Board of Directors. Other founding board members were Joy Harjo (Mvskoke) poet and musician; Elizabeth Woody (Warm Springs/Wasco/Navajo), writer and cultural specialist from the Warm Springs Reservation; Marshall McKay (Yocha Dehe Wintun, 1952–2021), chairman of the Rumsey Rancheria; Letitia Chambers, a private consultant, and Buffy St. Marie, the singer/activist.^[8]

NACF was formerly headquartered inn Vancouver, Washington.^[1] Lulani Arquette (Native Hawaiian) served as the founding president^[1] until December 2023.^[4]

Infrastructure

In 2020, the NACF was given Yale Union building in Portland, Oregon, as part of the #LandBack movement.^[4] The organizations hosts free monthly community tours through the space and holds changing art exhibitions there.^[4]

Artist Fellowships

The NACF awards several Fellowships for Native American artists working in a range of visual, performing, and literary arts.^[9] These include the National Artist Fellowship, Regional Arts Fellowships, and the Mentor Artist Fellowship. As of 2019, the Foundation has supported over 300 individual artists and arts organizations spanning 32 states. ^[10]

Mentor Artist Fellows

2018 ^[11]

2017 ^[12]

National Artist Fellows

2018 ^[13]

2016 ^[14]

2015 ^[15]

Upper Midwest Artist Fellowships

2015

2014

Additional projects

In 2013, through the Bridge Initiative: Art + Health, NACF funded four programs supporting health and vitality of Native communities in California.^[1]

In January 2023, NACF published a literary anthology, The Larger Voice: Celebrating the Work of Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Literature Fellows. Rena Priest (Lummi Nation), Washington State Poet Laureate edited the book, and NACF board member and U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Mvskoke) contributed a forward.^[16]