Apply Now for 2026 Midwest Culture Bearers Award
Arts Midwest is now accepting applications for the 2026Â cycle of their Midwest Culture Bearers Award, which celebrates and financially supports the work of Midwest culture bearers and folk arts practitioners.
This year, 18 awardees will each receive $5,000 to support their work. They’ll also have the opportunity to join capacity building and professional development sessions and have an Arts Midwest story written about their work. The award is unrestricted and no matching funds are required.
You may apply if you have a folk arts or traditional cultural practice that you have engaged in for at least 10 years and focus on sharing knowledge with others. You must live in the Arts Midwest region. This includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations and communities that share this geography.
Applications close at noon (12:00 p.m.) Central Time on August 18, 2026. Awards will be made in October 2026.
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