Creative West’s Anika Tene, standing, encourages local artists to apply for the Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund.
THE application portal for the Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund, offered by the Denver-based nonprofit Creative West, is now live at creativewestgrants.gosmart.org/.
According to Creative West’s Anika Tene, local cultural practitioners and artists are encouraged to apply for the funds. She spoke to local artists during a workshop at Joeten-Kiyu Public Library on April 23.
She said the funds are “unrestricted,” meaning the artists and cultural practitioners can use them to support their artistry. The funds can be used on tools, equipment, travel, rest, mentorship, rent, wellness, or a host of other ways to support the artist.
“This is for unrestricted support,” Tene said. “It’s not for a project, not where you have to say, ‘I’m doing this project and I need to buy these paint brushes or these canvases.’ No. It’s for you and what you need and that might not be for a project. We’re not going to say [that] at the end you have to submit a report and show us this beautiful project you made. We call it unrestricted support or operational support…for artists.”
Tene said artists do not need to submit a résumé, be part of a nonprofit, hold a degree, or register with the arts council.
However, applicants should be 18 years of age and above, living in the CNMI, and working in any creative field, to include dance, weaving, food, tattoo, poetry, film, language, the healing arts, among other artistic endeavors.
Artists should also be “connected to your community and culture,” Tene said.
The application will ask seven questions: “Who are you? What is your work? What do you need? How much are you requesting? Why that amount? Impact on self. Impact on community.”
Artists are required to upload a link to a creative sample in the form of a photo, video, song, poem, or other expression.
Tene said Creative West can award up to $6,000 per applicant, but the average amount awarded has been around $1,500.
Applications will be reviewed and approved by artists outside of the CNMI. Each application will be scored one to 10 on the following categories: cultural grounding, creative practice, need, amount, personal impact, and community impact.
The application process closes on June 1.
Creative West describes itself as an organization that “uplifts artists across the Pacific and Western U.S.” by “providing funding, mentorship, and culturally rooted support that honors the unique traditions and creative power of communities.”
