McKnight Artist Fellowship for Culture Bearers
This fellowship supports individuals preserving and teaching ancestral cultural arts and traditions, providing funding and resources to sustain intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Funder: McKnight Foundation
Due Dates: January 5, 2026 (Full application/submission deadline, 11:59 p.m. CT)
Funding Amounts: $25,000 unrestricted award per fellow; includes professional development and additional support
Summary: Supports individuals who preserve, practice, and transmit ancestral cultural arts and traditions across generations.
Description
The McKnight Artist Fellowship for Culture Bearers, administered in partnership with Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, recognizes and supports individuals who are dedicated to sustaining, practicing, and passing on ancestral cultural art forms and traditions. The fellowship is designed for culture bearers whose practices are deeply rooted in their cultural and heritage lineages and who are committed to sharing these traditions with youth and their broader communities. The program aims to honor, uplift, and invest in those who reclaim, maintain, and teach sacred and healing traditions, especially within communities experiencing transition or threat. Fellows receive not only an unrestricted financial award, but also professional development, access to a supportive network, and public recognition.
