Midwest Culture Bearers Award FAQ

Individuals who are deeply rooted in the practice and preservation of a cultural tradition(s). They may identify as folk and traditional artists, folk arts and culture practitioners, taproot artists, elder artists, ancestral knowledge bearers, or culture bearers, among other titles.

No, this award is not exclusively for any specific culture. Folk arts and culture bearer practices are often generational, connected to community and prioritize sharing with the next generation. Cultural identities include and are not limited to family traditions, geographic communities, or occupational groups.

Geographic communities may share knowledge, histories, and experiences related to a place. Examples of geographic communities are Native American communities, immigrant communities, nomadic groups, and more. E.g., Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, Iroquois, Potawatomi, and other Native communities practice black ash basket weaving from the geographic region where black ash trees have historically grown.

Occupational groups may share unique tools, histories, and knowledge. Examples of occupational groups include metal workers, miners, agricultural workers, hunters, fishers, nurses, hairdressers, and more. E.g., miners in Appalachia have foodways they have developed for their occupation, such as pizza rolls based on their Italian heritage, which travel well to the mine.

No, only individual artists are eligible for this award.

Yes, except for 2024 Midwest Culture Bearer awardees, who are not eligible for the 2025 award.

There are no expectations or requirements for how you spend the award, though we encourage awardees to use it toward furthering their career.

We recommend assisting the applicant in filling out the application if possible. But nominations are also welcome. Please get consent from the person that you wish to nominate. Fill out the application with the person’s information and indicate that it’s a nomination.

Yes. You can apply as an individual as well as submit multiple nominations. Please get consent from the person that you wish to nominate. Fill out the application with the person’s information and indicate that it’s a nomination.

No match required.

None.

Arts Midwest will make a public announcement of awardees in October 2025. Additionally, working in collaboration with awardees, we will feature awardees through stories on Arts Midwest’s website from December 2025 through April 2026. All storytelling is optional.

In addition to the award money, awardees have the option of being featured in a story published on Arts Midwest’s website, participate in networking with other awardees, and access professional development offerings. These opportunities are encouraged but not required. We anticipate gathering ideas from the awardee group in fall 2025 and providing sessions virtually from November 2025– February 2026.