About Sinew Fund
Program
The past, present, and future of Lakota communities are held and led by Lakota visual creatives, which include artists, makers, and culture bearers. This grant program is designed to support them and the community by funding collaborative, artist-led, community-based projects by Lakota visual creatives in Lakota communities. Lakota visual creatives can apply individually and in teams to fund innovative projects that will engage with Lakota community in exciting ways rooted in place and land. These projects will continue building relationships with human and non-human relatives, enhance the collective dialogue needed for cultural growth and strengthening, and contribute to the continuum of Lakota creative expression and practices.
Sinew Fund is designed to fund Lakota visual creatives based anywhere in the United States to do project work in Lakota communities. Because of the importance of place and land to Lakota people, funded projects will occur within Lakota communities in current-day/so-called western South Dakota.
Fund Partnership
In 2023, Racing Magpie became a partner in the Andy Warhol Foundation’s Regional Regranting program. This partnership has brought the Sinew Fund to life.
The Regional Regranting Program partners with local arts organizations nationwide to make grants to artists and collectives for projects that chart new creative territory in their communities; participation is by invitation only. Each network partner creates a program tailored to its region's specific needs and artistic identity. Established in 2007, the Regional Regranting Program is active in 32 cities and regions, supporting artists whose work falls outside the scope of traditional presenting organizations and/or funding opportunities. Projects supported by these grants have included queer zines, living room galleries, radical seafaring events, and virtual reality film screenings, among other public-facing experimental activities.
The Regional Regranting Program is established to recognize and support the movement of independently organized, public-facing, artist-centered activity that animates local and regional art scenes but that lies beyond the reach of traditional funding sources.
The next round of proposals are due March 6, 2024.
Please review the information below before starting an application.
-
Sinew Fund will provide ten to fifteen grants of $2,500-$5,000 each for $60,000 in grant funding annually. The program will divide the funding into two calls each year to support the seasonality of Lakota visual creatives’ work, with approximately $30,000 distributed in each round of funding. In addition, limited travel funds are available to those traveling more than 250 miles for their project. The amount of travel support available will vary each round depending on the status of funded projects. Individually led projects may request $2,500. Lead Organizers of collaborative projects may request $5,000.
-
What We Fund
> Projects that have a publicly accessible component
> Projects could include exhibitions or installations held in temporary spaces, new publications, a series of events or performances, digital initiatives, public art projects, and other activities that are related to the visual arts
What We Do Not Fund
> An individual artist presenting their work exclusively
> Projects that are part of the programming of a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization
> Projects at a commercial gallery
> Projects that do not offer an opportunity for free public engagement
-
> Applicant must be an enrolled member of, or prove descendancy of a Lakota tribe AND hold active community connections.
> Applicant must be at least 18 years old by the application deadline.
> Projects can have interdisciplinary elements but must have a strong and primary basis in the visual arts.
> Projects cannot charge admission or other fees to the public or participants.
> Projects must be completed within a year or less after being awarded.
> Projects must occur within Lakota communities in current-day so-called Western South Dakota.
> Projects can be submitted by an individual Lakota visual creative or as a collaborative group with a lead organizer who is a Lakota visual creative.
> We encourage projects that happen in community spaces.
> Projects are meant to be accomplished and completed with grant funds given, not partial funding for a larger project.
Sinew Fund is especially interested in projects that include:
> Collaborations, collectives, and partnerships between artists
> Artistic activities outside the studio
> Artistic activities that further the continuum of Lakota visual arts practices.
Lead Organizers
If the project involves a group of artists working together, please choose one person to act as the lead organizer. The lead organizer will oversee the project and must play a vital role in the creation and execution of the project. This contact person will also be responsible for receiving grant funds, communicating with Racing Magpie, and submitting the final report. You may work with as many collaborators and artists as you wish.
-
Following the close of the grant application, a panel of three individuals from outside of the organization will review applications. The panel will include an established Lakota artist, an arts professional, a Lakota elder, or an individual from another regranting organization.
Panelists will score each eligible proposal in three areas: Creative/ Artistic Impact, Community Engagement/Impact, and Feasibility/ Capability/ Capacity. Panelists will score each application to the extent that each program demonstrates these three areas. Strong proposals will demonstrate meaningful incorporation of the criteria.
Evaluation Criteria
Creative / Artistic Impact (50%)
Does your project challenge and emphasize experimentation, risk-taking, and imaginative and unconventional viewpoints?
Does the project contribute to the continuum of Lakota creative expression and practices?
Is the project unique and creative in its artistic process or result?
Community Engagement / Impact (30%)
Is the project relevant to and engaging with Lakota communities rooted in place and land?
Does the project build relationships with human and non-human relatives enhancing the collective dialogue needed for cultural growth and strengthening?
Feasibility / Capability / Capacity (20%)
Does the proposal demonstrate the quality of the individual or lead organizer’s artwork?
Does the proposal demonstrate the individual or lead organizer’s ability to complete the project within the proposed timeline and budget?
Is the breadth of work in the proposal realistic with the grant amount and timeline?
Please review the scoring matrix before writing your proposal. The scoring matrix is what panelists will use to evaluate all applications in round 1.
Sinew Fund staff will first vet all applications to determine the applicant's eligibility, including answering the question, “Does the project have a strong visual arts component?”
Point Calculation and Application Scores:
Total points any application can receive from each panelist is:
Creative/Artistic Impact - 50% weight - Highest score possible: 10
Creative Engagment/ Impact - 30% weight - Highest score possible: 6
Feasibility/ Capability/ Capacity – 20% weight - Highest score possible: 4
Total possible points an applicant can receive from a panelist: 20/20
First, Panelists will read and individually score each project application. Then, panelists will meet to compare and discuss application scoring. During this time panelists will decide together which projects will receive the Sinew Fund grant award for the current grant cycle.
-
Please use these documents to help you draft your application. Applications will only be accepted through Submittable.
Download the documents below by clicking on the title.
Sample Application for Individual Led Projects
-
To Submit An Application
Create a Submittable account. If you already have an account, just log in.
Enter your User Account information and continue. Complete the Project Narrative and Artist Profile.
Click “Add File” to attach each Work Sample.
Click “Add File” to attach appropriate Support Documents.
Review your application one last time! Then, click “Apply Now” to submit.
Notifications
Submittable will send a confirmation email to the email address provided during registration.
Applicants will be notified of their award status by September 20, 2023.
Applicants are encouraged to request feedback via the instructions in the notification email.
-
We encourage potential applicants to attend one of these sessions to learn more about the program and for tips on preparing a solid application. Dates for future information sessions are to be determined and will be announced here and on social media.
Review recordings of past information sessions below.
Virtual Informational Sessions
Zoom Webinar #1 - Saturday, June 10th, 2023, 5 pm MT
View Recording.Zoom Webinar #2 - Thursday, July 6th, 2023, 5:30 pm MT
View Recording. -
Grant Cycle 2
January 26, 2024 | Application Opens
February 2024 | Informational Session #1 - Webinar
February 2024 | Informational Session #2 - In Person
February 2024 | Technical Assistance Appointments
March 6, 2024, at 11:59 pm MT | Application Deadline
March 2024 | Applications Review
March 29, 2024 | Notification of Awards
-
Grantees will be announced in late March 2024. The Lead Organizer of collaborative projects will manage the funding and complete a provided W9. Grant funds will be disbursed in April 2024 upon receipt of a signed W9 and grant award agreement from the recipient. The grant will be paid in one payment.
-
Before reaching out, please review our Frequently Asked Questions page.
-
Please email sinew@racingmagpie.org if you have additional questions about the program. We also encourage you to make an appointment for a consultation with Sinew Fund staff if you would like to discuss your idea or have specific inquiries related to the eligibility of your project proposal. Appointments can be made using Calendly.
You can schedule a 30-minute virtual application consultation via our Calendly here.
Submit your Sinew Fund Application through Submittable. Access Submittable through the link below.
