Increased Alaska Native Art & Culture Project Grants

The CIRI Foundation offers the "Increased Alaska Native Art & Culture Grant," also known as "A Journey to What Matters" (JWM) grant program, with the mission to perpetuate and promote the artistic and cultural traditions of Alaska Native peoples. This program directly aligns with the foundation's strategic priority to support and preserve the rich heritage of Alaska's indigenous communities, encompassing Yup’ik, Inupiat, Aleut/Alutiiq, Athabascan, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian traditions that span over 12,000 years. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in tangible art traditions and the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, it can ensure the continuity and vitality of these cultural practices. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are Alaska Native artists and the broader Alaska Native communities. The impact goals are to promote the intergenerational transference of knowledge of Alaska Native artistic and cultural practices and to support Alaska Native artists. While language acquisition, storytelling, dance, and theater arts may be components of proposed projects, JWM grant funds are specifically allocated for expenses related to tangible arts, ensuring a direct focus on the creation and preservation of physical artistic expressions. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrate the ability to obtain at least a one-to-one funding match, indicating a focus on leveraging additional resources and fostering collaborative investment in cultural preservation. Preference is also given to applicants who have not been awarded within the last year, promoting broader access to funding across the community. All funded project activities must take place within the state of Alaska, reinforcing the localized impact and benefit to the indigenous communities within the region. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the promotion and perpetuation of Alaska Native tangible art traditions, enhanced intergenerational learning, and sustained support for individual Alaska Native artists. Grantee organizations are required to report on the project’s programmatic progress and financial expenditures, ensuring accountability and enabling the foundation to assess the effectiveness and impact of its investments. The typical project duration is 12 months, allowing for focused and achievable outcomes, with consideration for multi-year grants when appropriate. The foundation explicitly does not fund endowments, buildings, equipment, loans, projects completed prior to proposal action, re-granting of funds, other private foundations, or lobbying efforts.