The SHIFT – Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts Program, offered by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF), provides substantial support to Native artists, curators, and artist collectives committed to addressing social change through creative projects rooted in Indigenous knowledge, values, and perspectives. Now entering its third iteration, the SHIFT program aims to empower participants to create innovative, community-engaged projects that promote self-determination and resilience in Native communities.

The program provides two-year awards of $100,000, alongside professional development, project evaluation, documentation, and marketing support. The funding supports new, bold projects that draw from community cultural assets to challenge systems of oppression, shift harmful narratives, support cultural sovereignty, foster intergenerational knowledge sharing, and advocate for healing, well-being, and environmental justice. Projects must include a public presentation and demonstrate a clear plan for community engagement.

Applications for the 2025 SHIFT program open on January 28, 2025, and must be submitted by May 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in September 2025, and public announcements will be made in October 2025. The funding period will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027.

To be eligible, lead applicants must be Native artists or curators who are at least 18 years old, US-based, and either enrolled members or citizens of a US federally- or state-recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry. They must not be enrolled in a higher education program during the award period. Applicants may work in any recognized artistic discipline, including but not limited to performance, visual arts, traditional arts, literature, or multimedia.

Each applicant must partner with a US-based organization, which may be nonprofit, for-profit, or a tribal agency. The partner must actively collaborate on the project—not serve solely as a fiscal sponsor. Partners may include organizations in arts, social services, education, or other sectors. Artists cannot be affiliated (as founders, employees, consultants, or through family) with the partner organization.

Proposals must be for new projects, not continuations or existing programs. SHIFT does not fund ongoing or annual projects. Eligible projects must address social change issues through a Native lens, and must be completed and publicly presented within the two-year award period. NACF allows flexibility for projects to evolve and offers guidance and support to awardees throughout the process.

Applicants with questions about the application process may contact Amber Ball at apply@nativeartsandcultures.org or 971-417-4835 Ext. 435 for technical assistance. For content- or eligibility-related questions, contact Laura (Cales) Matalka at grantsupport@nativeartsandcultures.org or 360-334-7285.