Tribal Cultural Grant

Tribal Cultural Grant is sponsored by ArtsWA (Washington State Arts Commission). This non-competitive grant offers funding for Washington State Federally recognized Tribes to support Tribal communities in expanding, enhancing, or creating space for art and culture that is respectful and responsive to each community's needs.

Tribal Cultural Grant - ArtsWA Funding for Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) Next application opens February 2, 2027. This non-competitive grant offers funding for Washington State Federally recognized Tribes to support Tribal communities as they expand, enhance, or create space for art and culture that is respectful and responsive to each community’s needs.

As long as the proposed project is eligible, your Tribe will automatically receive funding. Funding amounts: The current allocation amount per application this cycle is $17,000 per Tribe if all 29 Federally recognized Tribes apply. The application includes space for each Tribe to identify an additional funding request that will be considered if additional funding becomes available, or if all Tribes do not apply.

Funding not requested by the closing date will be reallocated as additional funding to those that applied. In 2023 the Washington State Legislature provided funding to the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) to support Washington Tribal Communities’ arts and culture. Funding will be distributed through a series of grants that may be used for a broad array of cu l tural and / or art- related activities and programs.

The first round of grant funding was awarded to 20 of the 29 Federally recognized Tribes (all Tribes who applied) in March 2024 in the amount of $552,700. The second round of grant funding was awarded to all Tribes who applied in November 2024 in the amount of $500,000.

Projects that this initial funding supported included: Supplies and instruction for regalia making, a Tribal language dictionary and children’s books, support for culture teacher’s salaries, murals and art for a Tribal youth center and a Tribal health center, a Lushootseed language camp and much more. March 3, 2026, at 12 p. m.

: Register here. Please join us if you have questions about: The application open until March 31, 2026, at 5 p. m.

Grant guidelines, requirements, or the online application process (Submittable) Or questions about the Tribal Cultural Affairs program itself! We’re looking forward to meeting with you and helping you with your application. If you are unable to attend the open office hours, please feel free to call or email us with any questions you may have.

Applicants must be a Washington State Federally recognized Tribe. Each Tribe may submit only one (1) application, but the application may support several different projects. For recipients of the Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 ) Tribal Cultural Grant : In order to receive the funds for your Fiscal Year 2027 funds, the final report for your current grant (2026) has to be completed.

Funds may support Tribal cultural activities: this will be determined by your Tribe including but not limited to language, foodways, gathering spaces, classes or mentorships, regalia making, carving, weaving, Tribal museums, support for culture teachers, and more. If you have a question about whether your project is appropriate for the funding, please reach out to us.

What We Can and Cannot Fund As a state agency, there are restrictions on what ArtsWA can support.

Examples of what we can fund: Artist, teaching artist, and contractor fees Tribal museum support including, exhibitions, collections, enhancements, planning and consultations Rent (equipment or space) Travel expenses for in-state artists or consultants Materials, supplies, software, and technology Administrative expenses, including printing costs, postage, and other administrative fees Fees for increasing access to programming such as closed captioning, translation services, interpreters, or consultant support on these efforts Support of Native/Indigenous artists for start-up funds (business license, website development, technology) Expenses for Tribal cultural classes Expenses outside the current grant period Activities that have occurred prior to the period designated by the agreement Requests to cover previous losses incurred by the Tribe If you have questions about whether your project is appropriate for this funding, please reach out to us.

Application open February 3, 2026 – March 31, 2026 at 5:00 p. m. Open Office Hour: March 3, 2026 at 12 p.

m. Register here. Receive notification by May 16, 2026 Complete Grant Confirmation Form by June 1, 2026 Agreements issued by June 15, 2026 Timeframe to spend funds July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 Final reports due August 31, 2027 Confirm that you are authorized to apply on behalf of the Tribe.

Tribe contact information: Provide the contact information for whomever has authority to sign agreements on behalf of the Tribe. Provide the contact information for whomever will be managing this grant and the proposed project. Provide the Statewide Vendor Number we should use when paying the Tribe.

Provide the Tribe’s physical and mailing address. What do you hope to accomplish with this funding? How will this funding support culture and art in your community?

How many Tribal community members will be impacted with this funding? How many non-Tribal community members will be impacted with this funding? Use a budget form to describe how you would spend the allotted funding.

Indicate whether and how you could use additional funds if they become available. Estimate how much funding you could use for the 2028 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028). What to expect after you apply Submission confirmation: You will immediately receive an automated message from Submittable confirming your application was submitted successfully.

Make sure you have notifications@email. submittable. com listed as a safe sender for your inbox.

All applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility, we will let you know if there is anything missing in your application. Double check to make sure your contact information is correct so that we can reach you! Complete the Grant Confirmation Form: If your project is eligible, you will be sent a Grant Confirmation Form through Submittable on or before May 16.

Complete the form by June 1, 2026 so we can build the Tribe’s Indian Nation Agreement for the grant. The form asks for the contact information for the Authorizing Official for your Tribe, the Grant Primary Contact, and the Project Coordinator, as well as the Statewide Vendor Number of the Tribe.

Agreement issued: The contacts you provide in the Grant Confirmation form will be officially notified of award and issued their agreement by June 15, 2026. Your Authorizing Official can sign the agreement digitally or with ink. Payment: Tribes must select to receive their funds in advance of project expenses or as reimbursement.

If you choose Advance Payment , you can receive your funds as soon as you sign your invoice (included in your agreement). If you choose Reimbursement , you will simply sign your invoice (included in your agreement) and let us know when you are ready to receive your funds or submit the signed invoice when you are ready to be reimbursed. It usually takes a few weeks for funds to arrive after they are requested.

Final Report: Final reports are short and usually take about 15 minutes to complete. They will be available in Submittable after your payment is sent. This report is vital for the continued success of the Tribal Cultural Affairs program and our ability to continue providing support for Washington’s Tribal communities.

This information will be used for upcoming appeals to the state legislature for additional funding for future grants and programming. Photo documentation is also extremely valuable when explaining the importance of this funding and the projects that it supports – we ask that you share photos of your projects! (There is an easy photo upload link in the report.)

Cheryl Wilcox , Tribal Cultural Affairs Program Manager, at 360. 485. 1278 or cheryl.

wilcox@arts. wa. gov Linnea Ingalls , Tribal Cultural Affairs Program Coordinator, at 360-252-9969 or linnea.

ingalls@arts. wa. gov Wellness, Arts, and the Military Grants Tribal Cultural Affairs Grants