Applications are open for our BAAITS 2024 Two Spirit Artist Mini-Grants. Two Spirit, Indigequeer, Indigenous LGBTQIA+ artists and cultural bearers from the San Francisco Bay Area and living in the West Coast are eligible to apply for a grant, up to $5,000 total, for art projects and community offerings addressing Two Spirit identity and cultural expression, queer indigeneity, gender expression and sexuality. We will also consider applications for grants supporting your professional development as a Two Spirit/Indigequeer artist or cultural bearer. BAAITS staff, board members and awardees in 2023 are not eligible to apply.

 

Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) exists to restore and recover the role of Two-Spirit people within the American Indian/First Nations community by creating a forum for the spiritual, cultural and artistic expression of Two-Spirit people.

 

The BAAITS 2024 Two Spirit Artist & Cultural Bearer Mini-Grants project will support the creativity of our Two Spirit artists and cultural bearers as a vital part of our healthy communities. Selected artists and cultural bearers will be featured across BAAITS social media reach, expanding across Indian Country and beyond. We aim to make the application process easy to complete and streamline the process to have funds disbursed in a timely manner.

 

General Art Work or Projects Grant  (majority of grants)

Grants can be used for a wide range of projects directly supporting artwork and projects, including:

• Artist fees

• Art project supplies and materials

• Production costs & equipment

• Literature and educational material 

 

Professional Development Grants (1 - 2 will be considered)

Professional development grant funds can be used to cover various professional development costs, including:

• Conference fees

• Meals and accommodations

• Transportation (not including gas)

• Hiring consultants or other professionals to provide coaching/training

 

How to Apply

 

Our 2024 funding cycle is now open to applications. Please review the application guidelines below and see the link to apply at the end of this document. 

 

Application Guidelines

• Two Spirit, Indigequeer, Indigenous LGBTQIA+ artists and cultural bearers from the San Francisco Bay Area and living in the West Coast are eligible to apply.

 

• Projects that require additional fundraising (in addition to a BAAITS 2024 Two Spirit Artist & Cultural Bearer Mini-Grant) are ineligible to receive a mini-grant. Your project must be fully funded by the BAAITS 2024 Two Spirit Artist & Cultural Bearer Mini-Grant. 

 

• Projects must be completed by November 30, 2024.

 

• Grant funds may not be used to pay artists for anything unrelated to your project nor high end or personal use technology.

 

• You may submit more than one application, but only one application can be awarded per person in 2024. 

 

• See grant application for additional guidelines and requirements.

 

REVIEW CRITERIA

 

 A review panel will judge applications based on the following criteria:

 

• Project Design and Implementation (10 pts): Project design indicates realistic timeline, appropriate budget, clear artistic and community-based objectives and achievable outcomes. Design includes a component that is free to the public. Design indicates possible methods to evaluate and measure success, and document activities. Design demonstrates depth of participant involvement and clear plans for community outreach and marketing.

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• Artistic Merit (10 pts):  Every stage of the project design and execution demonstrates skills, expertise, and experiences that are central to the goals of the project and program.

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• Community Impact (10 pts): Project demonstrates reach and/or depth of engagement in an identified community. Project is responsive to the community to be served. Project execution and evaluation involve significant community participation.

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• Management and Leadership (10 pts): Ability of applicant to implement proposed project is clearly demonstrated by qualifications of project’s team, viability of project budget.

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