Grand Ronde artists receive grants from Oregon Community Foundation

Two Grand Ronde Tribal artists -- Steph Littlebird of Salem and Stephanie Craig of Dayton -- are among 14 who have been selected to receive grants from the Oregon Community Foundation’s Creative Heights grants program.

According to its press release, OCF’s Creative Heights initiative “has invested roughly $1 million per year since 2014, to support 151 projects across visual art, performance, folk and traditional arts, film and media, literary arts, museum exhibitions, humanities, music, theater, dance, opera, history, cultural heritage and multidisciplinary works.”

“We want to support bold creative visions — not just to advance the careers of these artists, but also to enrich Oregon’s creative landscape. These projects give communities access to groundbreaking arts and cultural experiences,” OCF Senior Program Officer Jerry Tischleder said in the press release. “Opportunities like these are rare. We have found that when given the resources they need to reach for the stars, Oregon's creatives deliver.”

Grand Ronde Tribal artist Steph Littlebird (Contributed photo)

Littlebird, an artist and curator, received $55,000 to expand a contemporary Indigenous art biennial exhibit with the Salem Art Association that showcases the artistic talents of Indigenous artists.

“We are so thrilled to showcase the deep well of Indigenous talent in the Pacific Northwest,” she said in the press release. “We cannot wait for everyone to learn more about the Native creatives and innovators carrying culture forward through contemporary art.”

Craig received $24,000 to create a digital curriculum of traditional basket weaving with instructional videos.