NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURES FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS TO 26 NATIVE ARTISTS AND NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

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NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURES FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS TO 26 NATIVE ARTISTS AND NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

Vancouver, Wash., Nov. 4 – The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) recently awarded its first grants to 26 American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists and organizations.

The NACF, incorporated in 2007, is a permanently endowed national organization dedicated exclusively to the revitalization, appreciation and perpetuation of Native arts and cultures. This year’s grant sizes ranged from $7,000 to $20,000, with a total allocation of $394,319.

Grants were awarded in three categories: “2010 Artistic Innovation – Through the Soul of an Artist,“ support for individual artists’ projects (total allocation $136,070); “2010 Mobilizing the Community Through the Arts,” support for community based programming (total allocation $168,249); and “2010 Strengthening the Arts and Cultures Infrastructure” (total allocation $90,000). The Rasmuson Foundation generously provided a $10,000 match to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a grant recipient in Alaska for the "Strengthening the Arts and Culture Infrastructure" initiative.

“It’s the NACF’s mission to provide financial support to artists and organizations to help our Native cultures flourish,” said Lulani Arquette, president and chief executive officer of the NACF. “We look forward to creating opportunities to emphasize the shared values of Native communities, and to receiving applications next year from artists and organizations in all 50 states, and the District of Columbia.”

“After years of planning, it’s thrilling to embark on our journey to strengthen Native arts and cultures,” said Arquette. “The arts have always played a significant role in Native cultures, and are a powerful path for connecting one generation to the next.”

To learn more about the NACF and to find out more about all of the grants awarded across the United States, visit www.nativeartsandcultures.org. Receive the free e-newsletter by sending an email to info@nativeartsandcultures.org and become a fan of the organization on Facebook.

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New law cracks down on fraudulent Indian arts and crafts

WASHINGTON D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today highlighted the importance of legislation President Obama just signed into law that promotes economic opportunities for Native American artists and craftspeople and protects consumers from fraudulent art and craftwork.

“The Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act is good news because it increases economic development and job opportunities for Native Americans who produce and market authentic Indian art and craftwork while cracking down on counterfeit marketers who are hurting sales of this authentic Indian work,” said Secretary Salazar. The total market for American Indian and Alaska Native arts and crafts in the United States is estimated at a billion dollars, with an unknown but substantial amount of those sales going to misrepresented, non-authentic works.

The Secretary joined President Obama and Tribal leaders from across the nation yesterday at a White House signing ceremony for the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act and Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010. The ceremony focused on the role of the law in helping tribal leaders combat violence and increase safety on Indian reservations by providing law enforcement resources.

The new law also strengthens the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which make it illegal to sell or offer or display for sale any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian-produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian Tribe.

“The law signed by President Obama yesterday expands our ability to enforce the Indian Arts and Crafts Act by authorizing all federal law enforcement officers to conduct investigations of those who fraudulently market arts and crafts as Indian-made in violation of the Act,” the Secretary said.

The Indian Arts and Crafts board (IACB), a federal agency under the Department of the Interior, administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Before President Obama signed the new legislation into law July 29, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was the only federal law enforcement agency with statutory authority to investigate alleged Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations. Under the new law, the IACB may refer potential Act violations for investigation to all federal law enforcement officers-including those from Department of the Interior bureaus, and can work with federal law enforcement officers who uncover violations of the Act in the course of their regular duties.

In addition, the new legislation strengthens the penalties for violations of the Act by imposing harsher penalties on those involved in more significant sales of arts and crafts misrepresented as Indian-made. For fraudulent works with a total sales transaction amount of $1,000 or more, a first-time violation by an individual will result in a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. A first-time violation by a business will result in a fine of up to $1 million.

For smaller cases with first-time violators, if the total sale amount is less than $1,000, an individual will face a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment of up to a year, or both, and a business will face a fine of up to $100,000. In the case of a subsequent violation, regardless of the amount for which any item is offered or displayed for sale, or sold, an individual could be fined, imprisoned for up to 15 years, or both, and a business; and a business could be fined up to $5 million.

Established by Congress in 1935, the IACB promotes authentic Native American art and craftwork of members of federally recognized Tribes, as well as to implementing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. For more information, see http://www.iacb.doi.gov.

Travel Support for Native Artists

New England Foundation for the Arts: National Native Artist Exchange
The National Native Artist Exchange, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts, is designed to support the exchange of artistic skills and knowledge among Native artists. American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian artists throughout the United States may apply to teach, learn, and collaborate in traditional and/or contemporary Native art forms through travel from one region to another across the nation. Grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded based on budgets appropriate to the scope of travel. Requests must be received at least two calendar months prior to the departure date of the proposed trip. Visit the New England Foundation for the Arts website to review the program guidelines.

Website: http://www.nefa.org/grants_services/national_native_artist_exchange

Build A Bridge

This year, BuildaBridge International will return for a second year to collaborate with local artists in Pablo, Montana working with the Salish and Kootenai confederated tribes. In addition, we will be adding a second week on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. On these reservations, visiting and local artists will collaborate to teach and encourage hope and healing with children and youth in communities that have experienced high rates of suicide, poverty, and drug and alcohol abuse. A certification in art therapy is desired but not required.

· Northern Cheyenne: July 31th - August 6th

· Flathead: August 8th- August 13^th

Diaspora of Hope Arts Camp:

A standard curriculum teaches about the will-power and way-power of hope through creative art-making in visual, drama, music, dance and other art forms. Pre-trip orientation is required, with on-line training options.

BuildaBridge is a non-profit arts education and intervention organization that engages the transformative power of the arts to bring hope and healing to children, families, and communities in the tough places of the world. BuildaBridge motivates, enlists, trains, and connects those with artistic gifts with those in greatest need. BuildaBridge's mission is twofold:

Bring hope and healing through the arts and Engage artists in service to others.

1. Build healthy and mentoring relationships with children and youth

2. Teach creative arts as a method for engaging children and youth in healthy, creative play and learning

3. Recognize the worth and gifting of each child and speak encouragement about these gifts for their future

4. Look for teachable moments by listening and observing

5. Use art as a metaphor in teaching lessons of wisdom, correction, and life skills

6. Go beyond arts teaching to meet the needs of the whole child through other resources

www.buildabridge.org

DG House's Open House

Contemporary native artist DG House, an associate of the Women Artists of the West, announces her open house and sale, Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the Big Medicine Art Studio, Bozeman. The World Domination Art Tour kick off Open House welcomes everyone to view new art and visit with the artist. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During this event, DG House unveils new limited edition reproduction and lino cut prints. All work is matted and bagged and visitors get a first look at the work created for the summer 2010 art festival season. Free 2010 World Domination Art Tour posters are available during the open house.

DG House’s art will be seen this summer at art venues including: the Under the Big Sky Art Festival, Missoula; The Festival of Arts, Livingston; the National Folk Festival in Butte and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

House’s work is represented in Montana by Betsy Swartz Fine Art Consulting in Bozeman; Latigo and Lace in Augusta; Montana Gallery, Butte; Ghost Art Gallery, Helena and A Horse of a Different Color Gallery on the square in Jackson, WY.

DG House recently signed with Bentley Art Publishing who will publish and represent her work worldwide.

The Big Medicine Art Studio is located just west of Four Corners at 97 Shepherd Trail, #10. Watch for signs. For more information contact DG House at dg_house@hotmail.com, 406.595.0113, www.facebook.com/dghousestudio.

Native American Made in Montana

If you are interested in learning more about the Native American Made in Montana labeling program, visit http://www.madeinmontanausa.com/

Native art and products should be reflected in the products made and grown here from fine arts, crafts, foods, agricultural and wood products to tools, machinery, software, and high-tech materials.

American Indian Artists Residency Deadline

American Indian Artists Residency
DEADLINE: June 15th, 2010
FULLY -FUNDED RESIDENCY September 1st - 30th, 2010
*If you miss the deadline, we encourage you to apply just in case there are cancellations.

The American Indian Artists Residency is dedicated to supporting the creativity of established and emerging Native artists, generating a beneficial dialogue in support of the self-defining movement in the Native American arts.

For the ninth year, the Montana Artists Refuge presents the American Indian Artists Residency. In September, this unique program will host five Native American artists for 30-day art making residencies in Basin, Montana. Each artist will be given their own live/work space with independent kitchens and bathrooms. They will also receive stipends for travel, food and art materials. Resident artists will be selected by a committee of Native American artists and arts professionals.

In 2010, an inspiring collective of celebrated Native American artists inhabited the the American Indian Artists Residency (AIAR) working committee. Co-chairs Bently Spang and Corwin Clairmont, along with Jeneese Hilton, Vic Charlo, Molly Murphy, Dyani Bingham of the Montana Arts Council and MAR's Melissa Bangs, are breathing new life into the vision and potential impact of the residency and two-day symposium. The program will work to foster a sense of community and to break down the isolation that many Native artists experience, creating a bond that can be relied on - a sustainable community of Native artists.


TO APPLY...
visit www.montanaartistsrefuge.org or call Debbie Sheehan, Residency Coordinator, with inquiries @ 406-225-3500.