The Midwest Culture Bearers Award celebrates and financially supports the work of Midwest culture bearers and folk arts practitioners.
The Midwest Culture Bearers Award will honor and amplify the work of nine Midwestern folk arts and culture practitioners each year. We recognize that these individuals are deeply rooted in the practice and preservation of their cultural traditions through craft, storytelling, dance, performance, visual arts, language preservation and more.
Selected individuals will each receive a $5,000 unrestricted, non-matching award. Additionally, we will offer professional development and networking opportunities, and create feature stories about the awardees and their work.
This award is shaped by research and conversations with folk arts and culture practitioners and stakeholders that took place between 2021-2022. We acknowledge the incredible work of our State Arts Agencies, as well as First Peoples Fund, McKnight Culture Bearers Fellowship, and Tending to the Taproot. Their efforts have inspired this program and highlighted the need to support honor culture bearers and practitioners.
