Our definition of Lakota visual creatives considers many disciplines, mediums, formats, educational backgrounds, and life experiences. This includes the continuum of Lakota visual arts. The continuum of visual Lakota arts is all inclusive of Lakota made visual arts; traditional arts, cultural arts, contemporary arts, unconventional arts, and everything in between. We do not try to limit or gatekeep what these terms mean. The most straightforward description the Sinew Fund can give is those who identify their creative practice, whether based on culture, social commentary, something else, or the impulse to create as artistic. The Sinew Fund is made possible for projects that are strongly based in visual arts. Multidisciplinary projects are welcome, as long as the primary focus is visual arts based. Projects that do not have a strong visual arts component will not be considered for funding.

The visual arts, encompassing a vast array of formats, mediums, styles, subjects, concepts, tones, and intentions, are fundamentally rooted in the visual experience. We are particularly drawn to works that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of the field through experimentation and risk-taking. 

We have awarded grants to projects that include:

• Teaching free cradleboard or quilt making classes.

• Collaborating with students on public murals.

• Re-working and relocating an already established exhibit in Lakota territory.

Sinew Fund Grants are intended to enable individuals and groups of artists to take NEW risks with their work, push the scope and scale of their activities, develop and pursue collaborative projects, and engage with the community and public realm in inventive and meaningful ways. If you are already involved in a process that meets these criteria, consider applying for funding. However, you should be clear about how a Sinew Fund grant could help you grow your ongoing practice or project in some way since this grant is intended to launch experimental and expansive work that would only happen with the award.

Sinew Fund grants funds will not be awarded to proposals whose sole or primary purpose is to buy or rent equipment, rent or reconfigure studio space, meet travel expenses, or pay for professional services. However, these expenses may be covered if they are part of a larger, compelling vision and comprise a manageable portion of your budget for the specific project proposed in the application.

A group of panelists is selected annually. The panel will include an established Lakota artist, an arts professional, a Lakota elder, or an individual from another regranting organization. After the first round, the panelest mix will include a past Sinew Fund grant recipient. Panel members are not Sinew Fund staff, Racing Magpie staff, or Racing Magpie Board Members. The Panel will evaluate each application based on a scoring matrix and a scale of 0-20, with 20 being the highest amount of points possible.

Panelists will consider each eligible proposal regarding Creative/ Artistic Impact, Community Engagement/Impact, and Feasibility/ Capability/ Capacity.

The Sinew Fund is especially interested in projects that demonstrate collaborations, artistic activities outside the studio, creative artistic activities that further the continuum of Lakota arts practices, and projects to occur in community spaces. We encourage you to look over our scoring matrix before developing your application. Panelists will use this exact matrix/criteria to evaluate applications.

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 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.

We prefer that you seek funding after you have a strong concept, timeline, and list of people or organizations you might be working with. We are looking for solid, feasible projects. You should prove in your application that your project can happen. The more you have planned before you apply, the better. We can accept projects that have already begun. Similarly, we can accept projects that will commence within a year of the grant deadline. We cannot, however, accept already finished projects that are seeking reimbursement. If you are unable to complete your project within one year, we expect you to be in communication with Sinew Fund and propose a revised timeline.

Lead Organizers take responsibility for reporting and implementation of a project. They will serve as the primary point of contact for Sinew Fund staff and be responsible for communicating project status and changes throughout the granting period. Sinew Fund grant checks are made out to the Lead Organizer. The Lead Organizer will ultimately be responsible for signing award agreement and providing a W9. It is important that Lead Organizers understand what are possible tax implications in receiving the $5,000-$10,000 award.

You can only submit one application per grant cycle as an Individual or Lead Organizer.

Applications for the Fall 2024 funding rounds are due on August 13, 2024, before 11:59 pm MT.

No, applying for the Sinew Fund does not require an application fee.

A check can be made to the individual or lead organizer. Anyone who receives funds will be personally responsible for applicable taxes associated with the award. They must sign an award agreement and a Form W-9 and will be issued a 1099 form to be filed with their annual tax return. Checks cannot be made to for-profit businesses or 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

Yes, we expect you to pay the people involved in your project, including yourself, for their contributions.

Yes, so long as the equipment is necessary for the development of your project.

We will request one final report for your project ten months after the award. Reports will require a status update on the project, a reflection on challenges and successes, public information to be shared about the project, and images.

If eligible, you can apply via the Submittable platform here.

You must enter your login credentials if you’ve used Submittable and have an existing account. You must create a new account if it is your first time using Submittable.

Once you’ve completed your application, you should receive a confirmation email from Submittable. If you have any technical issues using Submittable, such as questions related to password retrieval, confirming receipt of applications, or revising submitted applications, please get in touch with support@submittable.com.

Project grant award funds may be used for all aspects of the proposed artistic project, including research, materials, collaboration, development, and creation, as outlined in your proposed budget. Sinew Fund believes in paying artists and creatives. Therefore, we strongly encourage fair compensation for all Lakota visual arts creatives and collaborators involved in the project. Please reflect this in your proposed project budget, including paying yourself.

No. Applications must be for new projects. Projects that have already happened will not be considered for funding.

The information you provide in this application is confidential and may be used to report demographics without identifying information. With the applicant’s consent, successful project activities may be published as a resource for future applicants. Sinew Funds plans to announce the award recipients and project summaries on the Sinew Fund website.

The application will ask you to share up to five visually support materials. You can upload these work samples as individual photo or video files. You can also share a link to your website, social media account or webpages used to share your art or a publication about your work.

You are eligible if your project has a strong visual arts component and you can communicate this within your application.

This project grant is intended to directly support the Lakota visual arts creative practices of individuals or collaborative groups. Organizations such as nonprofits are not eligible for funding; however, individual artists associated with such entities are eligible as individuals outside the organization’s scope of work.

Yes. Because this funding is meant to impact Lakota people on ancestral lands, the proposed project must occur within and engage with Lakota communities living west of the Missouri River in South Dakota. Additionally, projects may occur in areas including Lakota communities living within and outside the reservations.

The Sinew Fund will schedule 1-on-1 application consultation sessions between July 8th - August 12th. During this time, applicants can receive direct feedback regarding their application from a Sinew staff member. You can schedule your consultation date and time here: https://calendly.com/sinew/sinew-fund-1-on-1-consultation-sessions

Additionally, The Sinew Fund will host two virtual information sessions to outline the process and eligibility requirements and to answer any questions applicants may have. A recording of the first information session will be viewable on the main Sinew Fund web page, Racing Magpie’s Facebook page, and Racing Magpie’s Youtube channel. The live streaming and in-person information sessions are on the main Sinew Fund webpage and Racing Magpie’s Facebook page.

If you have a question about the application process or eligibility that needs to be answered in the information sessions or need assistance from our team in reading or filling out the application, please email us at sinew@racingmagpie.org.

Yes! If you need assistance or access to technology/wifi to complete the online application, please contact us at sinew@racingmagpie.org or call (605) 646-3334 and leave a message with how to contact you.

Yes. If you wish to submit an application on behalf of another person with their consent, you will need to create a Submittable account for them and be sure to fill out the rest of the application with their information. In addition, if you are filling out the application for more than one project, you must create a unique Submittable account each time.

Grant award recipients will be notified via Submittable on September 25, 2024.

Yes. The Sinew Fund grant award recipients will be publicly announced within 4 months of their award notification.

If your application is selected for a grant, you must be able to provide a W-9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and a mailing address at which you can receive a paper check. We will provide award recipients with a digital link to complete and sign the W-9 and a grant agreement form via email.

Yes. Award recipients will be sent a 1099 tax form for the award. Project budgets can reflect this. Please get in touch with a tax advisor for recommendations. In addition, Sinew Fund will host a webinar presented by a tax professional. All award recipients will be encouraged to attend.

Yes, we will respond to all applicants by the end of September 2024, whether they are selected for funding.

Funded projects need to be completing within one year of the award. During implementation, if a project is taking longer, the project lead is encouraged to reach out to Sinew Fund.

The Sinew Fund generally will not host the projects, collaborate or provide more resources than what is within the program’s scope as a regrantor program. It is recommended that Racing Magpie is not the venue to host project activities. The Sinew Fund will schedule check-ins with all award recipients to discuss progress and offer project guidance. The Sinew Fund will also provide equal opportunities of communications support and promotion of funded projects via our regularly publicized channels (social media, etc.). Beyond this, responsibility for the implementation, creation, and completion of all funded projects is held solely by award recipients.

The bio can be in either format. The goal is to persuade the panel that you have the attitude and experience necessary to carry out the project you propose, so do whatever works best! There is a limit on that section of 100 words, but it’s good advice always to use the most straightforward constructions possible to express complex ideas. So, the briefer is just fine. Panelists will be reading many materials, so making your writing clear, concise, and engaging is very important.

Yes! You can donate directly here and note the Sinew Fund grant program in the comments.

We expect and encourage artists to set aside a commission for their time and labor. However, please ensure the fee is in proportion to the total amount of the grant.

No, confirmation is not required. For our panelists to understand the scope of your proposed project, we ask that you provide an intended or possible location in your proposal.

Yes. Projects may also happen in existing art venues and temporary or non-traditional art spaces, community centers, public spaces, etc. Generally it is recommended that projects do not take place at Racing Magpie.

No. Collaborative projects are encouraged and prioritized but optional.

Sinew Fund will make 3 to 6 awards in each call for applications.

By Andy Warhol’s will, the mission of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts is the advancement of the visual arts. The foundation manages an innovative and flexible grants program while preserving Warhol’s legacy through creative and responsible licensing policies and extensive scholarly research for ongoing catalog raisonné projects. To date, the foundation has given over $218 million in cash grants to over 1,000 arts organizations in 49 states and abroad and has donated 52,786 works of art to 322 institutions worldwide.

No. You will have received a Sinew Fund Grant through Racing Magpie, made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts support.

Individual projects may request $5,000 in funding. Collaborative projects may request $10,000 in funding.

You may submit relevant images, outlines, and documentation of similar work related to your project. Please include a description and relevant explanatory notes of how each image/ file links to your proposed project. Please make sure to explain whether your submission your work or the work or someone else.

It’s relatively easy! For an introduction to Submittable – here’s a short video.

Want a more thorough walk-through? Here’s a helpful guide.

No. Attending an Information Session is a great way to learn more about eligibility and the application process, but it is not required. However, an Application Consultation gives additional support to applicants who need feedback on their proposals or have further questions that have not been answered.

Yes - please read ahead:

As an Individual or Lead Organizer in a Collaboration:

Awarded applicants may apply for the Sinew Fund program again 1 year after their original grant period has ended (2 years from their original award date.)

As a collaborator in a Collaboration:

Awarded applicants may be a part of a collaborative project after their awarded grant period has ended. They cannot be a Lead Organizer in order to apply at this time, only a collaborator.