Apply to the Emerging Native Arts Grant
The Emerging Native Arts Grant is a cornerstone initiative of the Walker Youngbird Foundation, created to support early-career Native artists who are honoring tradition while boldly shaping the future of contemporary Indigenous art.
Awarded twice annually, the $15,000 grant provides funding, mentorship, and a curated showcase to artists at a critical stage in their development, offering them the resources and visibility they need to take bold next steps in their creative journeys.
$15,000 in funding, plus mentorship and a curated showcase of the finished work.
The Walker Youngbird Art Advisory Council.
Early-career artists who are enrolled members of a U.S. federally or state-recognized American Indian tribe; Alaska Native; of Native Hawaiian ancestry; or members of a recognized First Nation in Canada.
Overview
The Emerging Native Artist Grant is designed to support early-career Native and Indigenous artists in completing a proposed project, one that results in work that can be shared publicly, whether through exhibition, installation, publication, or other visual presentation.
We welcome applications from artists who are exploring the intersection of tradition and innovation, and whose work reflects a commitment to cultural integrity, creative experimentation, and contemporary relevance.
Eligible Disciplines
We support artists working in the following areas:
This grant does not support performing arts such as musical composition, musical performance, screenplays, or full-length film/video projects.
Eligibility
The Emerging Native Arts Grant is open to artists who are enrolled members of a U.S. federally or state-recognized American Indian tribe; Alaska Native; of Native Hawaiian ancestry; or members of a recognized First Nation in Canada. Applicants will be asked to provide documentation of eligibility.
If you’re a Native artist with a vision for a project you’re ready to complete and share with the world, we encourage you to apply.
Why This Grant Matters
Native artists are often underrepresented in mainstream arts funding and gallery systems, especially artists working within traditional frameworks or from non-federally recognized communities. The Emerging Native Arts Grant aims to close that gap by:
Recent Recipient
In Spring 2025, Native Hawaiian artist Lehuauakea received the Emerging Native Arts Grant to support a solo exhibition in New York City, featuring large-scale kapa (Hawaiian barkcloth) textiles and wearable installations. Their practice revitalizes the endangered art of kapa-making while expanding it through embroidery, natural pigments, and contemporary installation, bridging ancestral knowledge and modern expression.
“By incorporating mixed-media and storytelling into kapa, I hope to sustain the practice in ways that resonate with younger generations and extend its relevance beyond Hawaiʻi.”LehuauakeaRead Lehuauakea’s story →