How to Apply to SIAM

About Supporting Indigenous Arts Mastery (SIAM)

The House of Welcome Cultural Arts Center at The Evergreen State College is committed to promoting Tribal arts across our service region. Each grant will provide $30,000 to $40,000(USD) to the college or university to implement each campus SIAM program. We require that colleges and universities in the program engage directly with Tribes, facilitating the practice of cultural arts among Native artists. We aim to empower artists by enabling grant partner institutions to provide resources for the practice of the arts, as well as teaching, and establishing dedicated shared cultural spaces that build and strengthen the relationship between the college/university and the Tribe.

2025 Institutional Pathways for Colleges & Universities

The SIAM initiative is guided by two main intentions that aim to uplift Native American Tribes and their artists:

  • Intention 1: We believe that Tribal artists play a vital role as custodians and interpreters of their cultures, preserving traditions for future generations. By acknowledging the significance of artists within Tribal communities, we deepen our understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems, which are collectively owned through histories, stories, symbols, songs, dances, and utilitarian objects specific to each Tribe.  We are committed to supporting regional Native American Tribes by recognizing their self-determination and cultural identity. This acknowledgment enhances our understanding of history, shapes the present, and inspires future collaborations. By that, we mean that Tribal citizen partners should shape the artistic projects to primarily serve the needs of Tribal artists and, secondarily, the educational needs of the college/university.
  • Intention 2: We strive to nurture and expand collaboration and partnerships through renewed cultural diplomacy. In our work with Tribes and their artists, we fully recognize and affirm their inherent right to express their living cultures through both traditional and contemporary art. We act as trusted convenors to Tribes and their cultural artists, working together to strengthen Tribal economies, communities, and society. We understand the importance of guarding against the pressures of institutional practices that may push artists to conform, as we are dedicated to preserving and respecting Tribal values within campus environments.

Who Can Apply?
Institution Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for SIAM Funding, your institution must meet the following criteria:

  • Mainstream public and private colleges and universities, including two-year and four-year schools, are eligible in the following states and provinces:
    Alaska, Arizona, British Columbia, California (Southern), Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
  • Tribal colleges are not eligible for this funding.
  • Establish a direct relationship with the regional Tribe(s) to support their cultural art goals and invite their cultural artists to define their cultural art practices.
  • Partnerships must be formed with federally recognized Tribes whose geographic regions or ancestral homelands are located near the college or university. The lead or master artist(s) will be enrolled members or citizens of that Native American Tribe.
  • The Tribes should determine the forms of art—not the college.
  • Applicants must specify whether they are seeking one-year or two-year funding. Prior-year funding does not guarantee funding for the second year.
  • All final reporting for previous grants must be approved before the acceptance of any new proposals.

Higher education institutions collaborate with artists as essential partners in the following ways:

  • The lead will work with a master artist(s) who will identify the specific art form(s), select materials, and develop strategies for engaging with participants.
  • The Lead will ensure funds are allocated for culture stewards, materials, meals, and honorariums.
  • The lead will work with master artist(s) to ensure proper protocols are followed so that the tribal partner participants retain ownership and care of their artwork, art forms, mentors, elders, and knowledge keepers.
  • Institutions actively support artists' capacity by promoting their unique and diverse art forms, practices, and knowledge.
  • Institutions will manage the application process, oversee funds, collaborate with campus administration, and prepare the final report.

What Does this Funding Support?

Artistic Production encompasses various art forms' development, creation, and production of various cultural art forms. This initiative involves artistic and cultural activities designed by Tribes and their artists.

  • Programs will be taught by Tribal artists and cultural mentors, ensuring the transmission of traditional and contemporary art forms and the necessary knowledge, skills, and artistic expressions associated with them. Teaching does not imply for-credit work at the college/university. Master artists should not be treated as free labor for teaching for-credit courses. SIAM will not pay tuition to the college/university for participants in the work, which should be implemented for the benefit of the Tribal community. This is an opportunity to build relationships with Tribes for the college/university.
  • Hands-on Teaching Workshops will emphasize cultural materials as defined by the master artist. Definitions of appropriate materials will not be imposed upon artists or Tribal communities. These workshops can focus on skill building, techniques, and knowledge that reinterpret the art forms of the local Tribes.
  • Master/Mentorship Residencies—These residencies offer artists dedicated time, space, and resources to advance their individual or collective artistic endeavors. The primary goal is to promote knowledge transfer to current and future generations. Solo residencies are not permitted.
  • Studio Practice- Conducting workshops on skill-building in material handling and tool use and practicing techniques and processes relevant to cultural or contemporary materials.
  • Networking local Tribal artists: Enhance the network of local Tribal artists through on-campus events featuring lectures, workshops, and exhibitions of artists in the program. Programs can culminate in an art exhibition of participants' completed artworks.
  • Educational practices that integrate the wisdom of culture keepers, elders, and families who share artistic and cultural traditions are essential. These individuals function as guardians of cultural knowledge with strong connections to their territories, natural resources, and ecosystems. Their guidance ensures that material-gathering practices are balanced and sustainable.
  • Serving food: Sharing food brings everyone together and creates a welcoming, family-like atmosphere. Meals encourage conversations, build relationships, and enhance understanding among participants. We encourage colleges and universities to build this into their budgets.

Eligible Expenses

Institutions can receive $30,000 to $40,000 (USD) per year to support a program. These expenses may include but are not limited to:

  • Contracted artist(s) fees or honorarium for Tribal artists.
  • Honorariums for cultural keepers in direct support of the artist’s artistic program.
  • Supplies, materials, and costs for arts activities are indicated in the proposal.
  • Apprentice/Mentorship costs, such as honoraria and protocol, or fees for mentors or elders.
  • Marketing involves the promotion and or advertising of the work of local Tribal artists and their audiences.
  • Meals and travel expenses for program workshops.

Ineligible Expenses

The following expenses and activities are ineligible for SIAM Funding:

  • Projects centered on “Indigenous” arts in a broad context.
  • Costs associated with constructing or renovating buildings, property, or studios, including monumental art that serves the institution.
  • Tuition, training fees, or academic classes for artists, staff, and program leaders.
  • Living or subsistence expenses, such as housing or daily transportation.
  • Any expenses that were incurred before the proposal submission.
  • Rentals for Academic classroom spaces, classroom services, and equipment. (The college is responsible for infrastructure-related expenses.)
  • College research or individual faculty projects, fellowships, scholarships, theses, or dissertations.
  • Fundraising activities.

How to Submit Your Proposal

Grant proposals must be submitted via email to Mary.Kummer@evergreen.edu.

The submission period begins on February 1, 2025, and will remain open as long as funds remain. Proposals will be reviewed in the order they are received, contingent on funding availability.

Please submit all required materials in acceptable formats, including Word, PDF, and Excel (for the budget). We encourage you to include images of the artists, their artwork, the campus, and any relevant photographs. There is no page limit, and various proposal styles are welcome.

Required Materials to Submit

1. Cover Letter on Institution Letterhead

Include the organization name, contact person, title, and address in the letter. This is designated or primary contact person who is leading the program.

Specifiy the amount requested for the SIAM grant and provide a brief progam description with start and end dates. List the Tribe(s), cultural art forms, and partnering artists involved. If the physical address for the cultural art workshops differs from the campus address, include it.

2. Detailed Program Description

Your propose to outline the objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on the development of the arts and culture program:

  • Artistic production: Identify the art form(s) involved and how it will be enhanced through skill development and practice to strengthen artistic techniques.
  • Protocols and Permissions: Clearly define any appropriate protocols and permissions required for Tribe to use traditional knowledge.
  • Support for Tribes: Describe how the proposed project will benefit Tribes, their art, artists, and cultural practitioners.
  • Goals and experience: Highlight the goals for program implementation and showcase partnerships with Tribes and their artists.
  • Ongoing relationships: Specify your plans for maintaining relationships with Tribes and developing new partnerships with family or community members. Additionally, include the physical locations where artmaking will occur.
  • Multi-year proposals: For proposals spanning two years, your proposal should detail all the elements by year.
  • Outline your progress plan and evaluation process. At the program's conclusion, grant recipients must submit a final report, an expenditure report, and a summary of their learning experiences.

3. Creative Development

Provide a comprehensive overview of the artist and the cultural activities to be developed. Elaborate on how these initiatives contribute to creating and evolving artistic expression in a culturally significant way.

  • A Letter of Support from the local Tribe(s) endorsing the cultural arts programs at your institution. This letter can be authored by individuals, partners, or affiliates associated with the Tribe, such as representatives from museums or cultural departments. It should emphasize the significance of the art form and/or the Tribe's commitment to supporting the cultural arts program at your institution.
  • Work Samples. Present samples of work, photographs, or images of the art forms to be developed by local cultural artist(s) at the institution.
  • Artist statements and biography should be included. You can also provide an artist's resume.
  • Include the physical locations where artmaking will take place.
  • Outline active inclusion strategies or plans aimed at amplifying artists' voices and minimizing barriers, thereby cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment on campus. This may include inviting cultural elders, aunties, and children to workshops or limiting the number of participants to 5-10 community members to facilitate effective teaching techniques that help artists develop their skills and practice.
  • Optional: Include any relevant programs, brochures, news articles, letters, links to YouTube/Vimeo/website videos, and testimonials that support your cultural arts programming.

4. Supplemental Materials

Program Budget

Provide an overview of expenses corresponding to the program's narrative. We prioritize detailed allocations of funds dedicated to individual master and apprentice artists, culture keepers, and the necessary supplies and materials.

  • It is essential to provide sufficient support for acquiring supplies and the time required to gather materials for artists whose work depends on the environment and natural plant materials. Include any income or in-kind support provided by the institution, such as staffing and program planning, marketing, promotion, and coordination of cultural activities by a staff member, and anticipated revenue contributed by the institution.
  • Multi-year proposals must separate the budget by year.
  • Please email us with inquiries regarding any indirect rate surpassing a 15% threshold.
  • You may use MS Excel format to submit your budget or list it in your written proposal. Indirect costs are expenses not directly associated with the art program. Institutions often have requirements for managing grants, administration, and compliance, particularly those with large research grants, which tend to have higher indirect rates. Since our grants for cultural arts are small, we aim to keep costs low, targeting no more than 15% indirect rates. Please contact us or let us know if we can help with an indirect waiver letter.

Program Roster

Provide the names and titles of the primary program staff dedicated to supporting the artist program. Please indicate any Tribal affiliations of the staff, faculty, or community members involved in the program.

Download: How to Apply to SIAM

Select "How to Apply to SIAM” to download a printable copy of these instructions.

How to Apply to SIAM (PDF, 350 KB)

How Proposals are Assessed

The House of Welcome staff manages the funding and review of all proposals. They use specific criteria to assess each program:

  • The institution should firmly commit to a local Tribe and its artists.
  • The program must advocate for Native artists and enhance mentorship and resource opportunities for them as educators.
  • It should effectively enhance, sustain, and safeguard cultural knowledge and art forms to ensure they are owned by Tribal communities while respecting their protocols involving material practices that are often connected to the traditional lands of Tribes.
  • The institution ought to be able to foster learning environments that meet the educational and cultural needs of a diverse range of intergenerational learners, thereby reinforcing cultural best practices.

Notification of Awards

All institutions will be notified within 30 days of proposal submission. Notification will be sent in writing by email and by phone.

Award recipients must complete The Evergreen State College Foundation grant and contract agreement.

Grant Conditions

Funding is intended for the purposes described in the proposal. Institutions agree to carry out the project outlined in the original program narrative by accepting funding. Programs should be designed to be brief, lasting between 9 and 10 months, including the time allocated for submitting the final report.

Award notifications will be delivered in writing via email and by phone. Grants will be disbursed in a single payment once a grant and contract agreement with the Evergreen State College Foundation is finalized. For organizations receiving multi-year grants, an annual report will be required before the release of payments for subsequent years.

All grantees must execute a grant and contract agreement and submit an invoice to the Evergreen State College Foundation.

Please inform us if you anticipate any changes to the project from what was initially outlined in the proposal. Changes may include adjustments to key personnel, project scope, timeline, expected outcomes, outputs, or budget modifications.

Final Reporting

A new proposal will be accepted only after the previous program is completed and the House of Welcome receives the final report. Grant recipients will receive an email outlining the required components for their final reports, while grant partners will receive guidelines for submission.

Funding Acknowledgment

Whenever possible, please acknowledge the "House of Welcome Cultural Arts Center" for its financial support in any publicity related to the project, including electronic, print, or visual materials.

Common Questions

How Does the Funding Cycle Work?

Rolling applications

The grant is open now and will remain open until funds are spent. Please review the instructions for submitting your proposal and let us know if you need further assistance. Proposals are reviewed in the order received while funding is available.

Is a Final Report Required?

Document your completed project

Recipients are required to submit a final report documenting their completed project. The report should address the objectives identified in the application and be submitted by email to the House of Welcome before reapplying or seeking funding for a two-year grant. The report should include a detailed written narrative of the program outcomes describing how the activities were met and a final budget in spreadsheet format. Photos and video documentation of activities are encouraged.

Can I get Application Assistance?

Contact the SIAM program specialist

Before submitting an application, applicants can schedule a phone or email meeting with the SIAM Program Specialist at Mary.Kummer@evergreen.edu. 

Contact Information

For general information or further assistance, please get in touch with Mary Kummer at mary.kummer@evergreen.edu

Fostering healthy relationships with our partners is crucial to us. We would appreciate any advice on continuing to nurture this connection with you and your organization. What aspects of our processes, communication, or anything else stand out as most or least helpful?