Museum at Warm Springs receives $100,000 for traditional arts programming

The Museum at Warm Springs has received a $100,000 grant from First Nations Development Institute in Longmont, Colorado through its Native Arts, Language and Knowledge Program. The two-year grant will support the museum’s efforts to preserve and advance traditional Native arts through programming focused on supporting artists and intergenerational sharing of artistic skills and knowledge as well as supporting the museum’s organizational stability. The grant is made possible through the generous support of Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

“This generous grant from First Nations Development Institute will provide much needed and extremely welcome support for our annual traditional master arts workshops for Warm Springs artists, which are central to the museum’s programming,” said museum executive director Elizabeth A. Woody (Warm Springs, Yakama and Diné). “In 2022 and 2023, 224 students participated in our workshops; and we are so pleased that we’ll be able to continue hosting these important workshops during the two-year grant period.”

“Grant monies also will support three rotating exhibitions in our changing gallery, beginning with our ‘31st Annual Warm Springs Tribal Member and Youth Exhibit,’ which will open in November, and associated public relations and marketing initiatives for all of exhibits and programs,” said Woody.

For over 43 years, First Nations Development Institute, a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has worked to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. First Nations invests in and creates innovative institutions and models that strengthen asset control and support economic development for American Indian people and their communities. First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993. Through year-end 2023, it had successfully managed 3,385 grants totaling $79.9 million to Native American projects and organizations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory of American Samoa. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org.

First Nations established the Native Arts Initiative in 2014 to provide direct grantmaking, networking opportunities, and training and technical assistance to Native-led arts and cultural hubs that are working to preserve and advance traditional Native arts through programming focused on supporting artists and intergenerational sharing of artistic skills and knowledge.