Arts Midwest Culture Bearers Award — Apply Now

Now Open: Midwest Culture Bearers Award

Arts Midwest is now accepting applications for the Midwest Culture Bearers Award, a $5,000 award that celebrates and supports the work of Midwest culture bearers and folk arts practitioners.

​Culture bearers keep their cultural traditions alive through craft, storytelling, dance, performance, visual arts, foodways, language preservation, and more. They are deeply connected to their communities and share their knowledge with new generations.

About the Midwest Culture Bearers Award

• ​​What is it? The Midwest Culture Bearers Award is a $5,000 award. It honors and amplifies the work of nine Midwestern culture bearers each year.

• ​Who can apply? If you have been practicing arts and culture rooted in your heritage and ancestry for over 10 years and share your practice with your community, you can apply.

• ​Where? You must live in the Arts Midwest region. This includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography.

• ​When to apply? Applications close at 11:59 pm CST on July 29, 2024. The first awards will be made in September 2024.

You can get help from someone else to complete your application. Or, you can nominate someone with their permission.

Ready to Apply?

​Learn more about the Midwest Culture Bearers Award, review eligibility requirements, and read the guidelines on their website here.