Preserving Traditional Arts
Supports community-led projects to document, conserve, and transmit traditional arts and cultural heritage in select regions, prioritizing local knowledge and sustainable cultural preservation.
Funder: National Geographic Society
Due Dates: June 4, 2026 (11:59 PM EDT) | June 5, 2026 (3:59 AM UTC)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000 (Level I); up to $40,000 (Level II); project duration 1–2 years
Summary: Supports projects to conserve, document, and transmit traditional arts and cultural heritage led by artisans or practitioners in select global regions.
Key Information: Projects must be located in Baja California, Egypt, Europe/Mediterranean, Southeast Alaska/British Columbia, or the South Pacific.
Description
This grant opportunity, offered by the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions, funds projects dedicated to the holistic conservation of traditional arts—including crafts, music, adornment, dance, and spoken arts—by centering the role and agency of local and descendant communities. The program aims to empower artisans, knowledge holders, and heritage practitioners to document, transmit, and sustain cultural heritage practices, particularly in regions such as Baja California, Egypt, Europe and the Mediterranean, Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, and the South Pacific. Eligible activities include documentation, capacity development (apprenticeships, workshops), and community-based knowledge sharing to ensure the sustainable transmission of traditions across generations. The grant emphasizes community engagement, ethical protocols, and the integration of local knowledge systems, with a focus on projects addressing urgent needs in preserving or transmitting specific arts or practices.
