Oneida Nation Arts Program
About
Mission of the Oneida Nation Arts Program
The Oneida Nation Arts Program mission is to promote diverse artistic expression within the community reflecting our heritage and spirit of future generations.
A founding member of the Oneida Nation Arts Board remembers gathering around a kitchen table in the 1970s discussing art and ways of supporting each other in developing art in the community. In 1994, more than twenty years after that initial meeting the Oneida Nation Arts Program, ONAP was established as an agency within the Oneida Tribe of Indians in Wisconsin in the Governmental Services Division.
ONAP provides diverse and comprehensive arts programs that feature, support and develop the Oneida creative spirit by celebrating, challenging, and promoting the individual. ONAP supports and encourages creative expression that embrace our heritage, comment on the present, and illuminate the future.
The Oneida Nation Arts Board (ONAB) is an advisory board that oversees the WI Regranting Program and the Dollars for Art Program (DAP) grant. They also support and promote art in the community.
Dollars for Art Grant Program
The Dollars for Art Program (DAP) was created in 1999 with a continuing grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB). DAP Grants are awarded for artistic endeavors and projects in both traditional and contemporary styles of visual arts, literature, music, theatre, and dance. DAP has funded over 266 arts projects to 130 unique artists, arts organizations, and community groups.
The Oneida Nation Arts Board (ONAB) reviews the applications and awards the DAP grants every year. The applicants are rated by a Peer Panel Review and funds are allocated by the ONAB based on the recommendations of the panel review.
The DAP program policies can be viewed here: Chapter 128 DAP Law
The grant application deadline is the 4th Friday of July every year. All activities must occur between October 1st of the current year through September 30th of the following year.
Professional Artist Award: Application and Final Grant Report
Available to a Professional Artist who wishes to work on a specific art project that will benefit an Oneida Community in the state of Wisconsin. A professional artist is defined as an artist who: has specialized training in the artistic field (not necessarily in academic institutions), is recognized as a professional by his or her peers (artists working in the same art medium) and is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity. Grant activities must be open to the public. There is a preference for artists enrolled in Oneida Nation or an Oneida descendant, other Native American artists, or those connected to the Oneida communities in Wisconsin. No cash match is required, however, grantees must show how full award was accounted for in their final grant report.
There is a maximum of one Professional Artist Award available per fiscal year. Applicants may apply for a Professional Artist Award multiple years, however they must show evidence of growth. Award may not exceed $3,500.00.
| FY26 Professional Artist Award | Professional Artist Final Grant Report |
Artist Development Award: Application and Final Report
Available to intermediate or established artists who wish to work on a specific art project that will benefit an Oneida Community in the state of Wisconsin. Grant activities must be open to the public. An intermediate/established artist is one who has grasped the basic techniques of their art medium and is actively pursuing the artform. There is a preference for artists enrolled in Oneida Nation or an Oneida descendant, other Native American artists, or those connected to the Oneida communities in Wisconsin. No cash match is required, however, grantees must show how full award was accounted for in their final grant report.
Applicants may apply for an Artist Development Award multiple years, however they must show evidence of growth. Award may not exceed $2,000.00.
| FY26 Artist Development Award | Artist Development Final Grant Report |
Arts Starts Award: Application and Final Report
Available to those wishing to explore the arts and being an artist. The award may not exceed $750.00 and is to be used to fund a class or lessons in the art medium the applicant is interested in. Arts Starts grantees must share photos of what they created in their class or lessons with ONAP staff. Grantees can email their photos to Arts Coordinator Sadie at swilson1@oneidanation.org. There is a preference for artists enrolled in Oneida Nation or an Oneida descendant, other Native American artists, or those connected to the Oneida communities in Wisconsin. No cash match is required, however, grantees must show how full award was accounted for in their final grant report.
Applicants may apply for an Arts Starts Award multiple years, however they must show evidence of growth. There is a maximum of 2 Arts Starts Awards available per fiscal year.
| FY26 Arts Starts Award | Arts Starts Final Grant Report |
Community Group Award: Application and Final Report
Available to community groups or tribal programs for arts projects that are new and innovative or significantly enhance an existing program in a Wisconsin Oneida community. Applicants must hold tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; or an artist using a fiscal sponsor; or tribal department. Grant activities must be open to the public. No cash match is required, however, grantees must show how full award was accounted for in their final grant report.
There is a maximum of 2 Community Group Awards available per fiscal year. Award may not exceed $3,000.00.
| FY26 Community/Group Award | Community Group Final Grant Report |
Planting Seeds of Knowledge Program
Seeds Grant Information
*Fiscal year 2025 funding has been depleted*
A grant program for schools & community groups
Planting Seeds of Knowledge (SEEDS) is a grant program for Wisconsin schools to present qualified Native Artists in their schools. This grant is funded by the WI Arts Board’s “WI Regranting Program,” and the Oneida Nation Arts Program (ONAP). The artists and culture educators on our roster are available for interactive and engaging residencies, workshops and performances. ONAP has background investigations done on each artist on our Seeds Roster, and they are approved for working with children and elders. View the Seeds Grant Application Forms here.
View the [ Seeds Artists Roster ] to see our eligible Seeds Artists, and information about their presentations.
Grant Guidelines:
- Funding is available on a first come, first served basis from September 1 to April 1 each fiscal year or until funds are depleted.
- Schools may apply for up to 100% of the approved artist fees at the SEEDS eligible funding for school presentations.
- Schools may apply for up to 100% of the approved artists fees for Teacher In-services and Trainings.
- Each school within a district may apply for up to $1,500 and/or 1 SEEDS grant per school year.
- Additional costs are the responsibility of the applying school district or organization and due to the Artist on the last day of their presentation.
Application Process for teachers:
Step 1.) Talk to the Artist. Visit the Artist Roster to learn about their program offerings. Discuss dates, times, fees, and any school rules they need to know about for visiting your campus. The Seeds Grant Applications are due 6 weeks prior to the artist’s engagement.
Step 2.) Talk to your school administrator about having an authorizing official sign and date your application; or sign it yourself if you’re the authorized official. If your school doesn’t have a vendor account with Oneida Nation, we’ll send “vendor information forms” for your school to obtain a vendor account for purposes of issuing grant awards.
Step 3.) Fill out the Seeds Grant application, Artists Schedule, and Artist evaluation; and then send these forms to Sadie in the ONAP office. For more info call (920) 490-3835. Applications can be emailed to swilson1@oneidanation.org or faxed to ONAP at 920-490-3839.
Step 4.) Follow up with the artist after your grant application has been awarded or denied to confirm your program or make other arrangements. Finally, conduct a post-survey of the artist’s presentation, and send it to us. Schools who don’t send the pre and post artist surveys aren’t eligible for another Seeds grant, until we receive all the forms.
Download Application and Forms:
| Seeds Grant Application | Artist Schedule | Artist Eval | Artists Roster | Seeds SOP |
Funding for these grants is made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Oneida Nation.
Artist Directory
Public Art Survey
The Oneida Nation Arts Program has worked with BLVE Consults, LLC, to conduct a survey about the arts in our community. BLVE Consults LLC, based in Chicago, provides consultation about arts & culture and social justice arenas including arts consulting, non-profit arts management, and arts management among other services. In the summer of 2023, we launched a public art survey in our community and received about 813 responses.
The main takeaways from the survey results are focused on wanting to see Oneida grow and thrive and offer more opportunities for both artists and the wider community.
97% of respondents feel that it is important for ONAP to preserve the culture
95% feel it’s important for ONAP to nurture and fund artists.
85% of respondents noted that the programs at ONAP both served to provide
opportunities for our youth to learn about different art forms in our culture, and were
affordable.
95% of respondents noted that they wanted more options of programs to participate in
at ONAP
We can’t thank everyone and the community enough for being a part of our Summer Arts Survey process and providing us with your feedback. The results of our survey clearly showed that we need to get to know the artist community better. To review the survey results, click here: ONAP survey results.
The survey indicated a need for focus groups to gain deeper insights from what the community needs and expectations are of ONAP. We have run a set of Focus Groups in March and April, of 2024, facilitated by the Blve Consults LLC staff, to get to know each other better and learn how ONAP can provide better services and supports to artists in our community.
There were three in-person focus groups, at The Oneida Hotel, Plaza Club, on April 4 & 5, 2024. Each event was 90 mins to 2 hours and all participants received free promotional gifts from the Arts Program. The Oneida Hotel (formerly the Radisson) is located at 2040 Airport Dr, Green Bay, WI 54313. We had two online options on March 22 and 24, 2024.
Again, we appreciate your support. Your voice is important to this process.
Artist Focus Groups
Art Markets
Oneida Nation Arts Program hosts two art markets each year. Our Native Holiday Art Market is held in the fall, in November or December, and our Red Banks Native Art Market is held in the spring, in April or May. Our art markets are held at NWTC’s Corporate Conference Center, which is in Green Bay, WI at the intersection of West Mason St. and Country Club Rd. We have between 20-30 vendors at our art markets, each who sell original art and crafts or items they have designed themselves.
