About Sinew Fund
Program
The past, present, and future of Lakota communities are held and led by Oceti Sakowin 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 Oceti Sakowin visual creatives in Lakota communities. Oceti Sakowin 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 Oceti Sakowin creative expression and practices.
Sinew Fund is designed to fund Oceti Sakowin visual creatives based anywhere in the United States to do project work in Lakota communities. Because of the importance of place and land, funded projects will occur within Lakota communities in current-day/so-called western South Dakota. Please visit our News page to learn more about our awarded projects.
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 will open on January 13th, 2025 and are due March 13th, 2025.
Please review the information below before starting an application.
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Sinew Fund will provide six to twelve grants of $5,000-$10,000 each for $60,000 in grant funding annually.
(Individually led projects may request $5,000. Lead Organizers of collaborative projects may request $10,000.) The program will divide the funding into two calls each year to support the seasonality of
Oceti Sakowin 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. -
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 (e.g., an artist presenting a solo exhibition in a gallery)
> 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
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> Applicant must be an enrolled member of, or prove descendancy of a Oceti Sakowin 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 Oceti Sakowin visual creative or as a collaborative group with a lead organizer who is a Oceti Sakowin 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 Oceti Sakowin 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.
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Following the close of the grant application, a panel of three individuals from outside of the organization will review applications. The panel may include an established artist, an arts professional, an elder, a former Sinew Fund recipient, 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 Oceti Sakowin 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.
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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
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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 through Submittable.
Applicants are encouraged to request feedback via the instructions in the notification email.
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Virtual Information Sessions:
We held two virtual information sessions to go over eligibility, a run-through of the application and its requirements, and a Q&A to go over any specific questions you have!
You can watch the sessions below:
Virtual Information Session 1:
Wednesday, July 24th 2024
Virtual Information Session 2:
Tuesday, August 6th 2024
1:1 Consultations:
We encourage potential applicants to schedule a 1:1 consultation session with Sinew Fund staff.
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Spring 2025
January 13, 2025 | SP25 Application Opens
TBD | Information Session #1
TBD | Information Session #2
March 13 11:59 pm MT | SP25 Application Deadline
April 16, 2025 | Notification of Awards
Fall 2025
June 13 | FA25 Application Opens
TBD | Information Session #1
TBD | Information Session #2
August 13 11:59 pm MT | FA 25 Application Deadline
September 17 | Notification of Awards
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Spring 2025 grantees will be notified in mid-April and Fall 2025 grantees will be notified in late September.
Each grantee will manage their funding and complete a provided W9 (in collaborative projects, this will be the Lead Organizer.) Grant funds will be disbursed in May (for SP25 recipients) and October (for FA25 recipients) upon receipt of a signed W9 and grant award agreement from the recipient. The grant will be paid in one payment.
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Before reaching out, please review our Frequently Asked Questions page.
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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 Google.
You can also reach out to schedule a 30-minute virtual application consultation here: https://calendar.app.google/nGk88Q3dC1X1CYGE7
Submit your Sinew Fund Application through Submittable. Access Submittable through the link below.
