Furthering Opportunities for Indigenous Talent From California Tribes Through $4 Million Endowment Gift From Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

The nonprofit Sundance Institute has announced the largest endowment gift in its history, a $4 million dollar endowment to the Institute's Indigenous Program from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR). The opportunities created through the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria | Sundance Institute Endowment will provide support for Indigenous artists from California-based tribes, both federally and non-federally recognized. The gift will allow the Institute to expand the offerings already available to artists through the Indigenous Program, an integral component of the Institute's work that officially began in 1994 and has been woven into the organization's values since its inception in 1981, when Native American filmmakers were invited by founder Robert Redford to participate in the originating meetings of Sundance Institute and its first filmmaking lab.

The endowment gift was facilitated by FIGR Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris, who himself was a participant in Sundance Institute's 1992 Screenwriters Lab. In the immediate future, the endowment will create a new Fellowship for emerging and midcareer Indigenous artists with a project in development or production, providing critical financial and creative support. The Graton fellows will each receive a grant of $25,000, yearlong creative mentorship from Indigenous Program staff, access to creative and professional development opportunities, and support to attend the Sundance Film Festival. The gift will also support the creation of scholarships with Sundance Collab, Sundance Institute's digital learning space for artists from around the world. Applications are open from now until August 28, 2023, for the first round of fellowships and scholarships to be distributed in 2024.

LINK:	https://www.sundance.org/blogs/furthering-opportunities-for-indigenous...
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