Prêmio Portadores da Cultura do Meio-Oeste

The Midwest Culture Bearers Award, administered by Arts Midwest, is an annual award that recognizes and financially supports 18 mid‑career and established cultural practitioners across the Midwest. Each awardee receives an unrestricted $5,000 grant, along with access to capacity‑building and professional‑development sessions and the opportunity to have an Arts Midwest story written about their work. The 2026 award cycle is now open, and applications close at noon Central Time on August 18, 2026. Applicants must have a folk arts or traditional cultural practice that they have been engaged in for at least ten years and must demonstrate a commitment to sharing knowledge with the next generation. Eligibility is limited to residents of the Arts Midwest region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations and communities that share this geography. The award is unrestricted, requiring no matching funds, and aims to amplify the work of culture bearers while fostering relationships across the region. For questions, applicants can consult the FAQ or email MCBA@artsmidwest.org.

Unrestricted $5,000 award, capacity‑building sessions, professional‑development workshops, feature story by Arts Midwest.

Must reside in the Arts Midwest region (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, OH, SD, WI, Native Nations), have at least 10 years experience in a folk or traditional cultural practice, and focus on teaching or sharing that practice with others.