National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures

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OVERVIEW: NALAC supports Latino artists and arts organizations, prioritizing programs and projects with a social justice bent.

IP TAKE: This is an accessible funder that supports a broad range of Latino artists and arts organizations that advance racial, social and immigrant justice. This funder is an ally of smaller organizations as well as larger ones, so there’s plenty of room to get through the door. Moreover, the association tends to change its programming from year to year, so grantseekers are advised to check the program page periodically for updates and new opportunities. And while NALAC is accessible, participating in one of the organizations several events or leadership development institutes is another way to gain the association’s attention.

PROFILE: The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) was established in 1989 and is based in San Antonio Texas. The association aims to deliver “programs that stabilize and revitalize the US Latino arts and cultural sector via funding, leadership training, convenings, research, and advocacy” and describes itself as a “multi-generational, multi-ethnic, and interdisciplinary community that includes thousands of Latino artists and hundreds of nonprofit Latino arts and cultural organizations in urban and rural communities.”

NALAC’s grantmaking programs support LatinX artists and organizations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with a select few grants supporting projects in Mexico. This funder’s grantmaking places a strong emphasis on art with central themes of immigration and racial and social justice. In addition to grantmaking, NALAC hosts several annual events and runs a broad range of in-house advocacy and leadership development programs.

Grants for Arts and Culture, Immigrants and Racial Justice

NALAC’s main grantmaking program is its Fund for the Arts, which supports “US and Puerto Rico-based Latino artists and arts organizations in the development, creation, presentation and sustainability of artistic excellence.” The fund runs three annual programs:

  • The NFA Artists Grant provides $10,000 grants to “artists whose work demonstrates excellence and the potential for impacting the Latinx arts field” in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

  • The Flamboyan Artists Fellowship is limited to artists residing in Puerto Rico whose work supports “the restoration and sustainability efforts of artistic and cultural practices by artists residing on the island,” and is awarded in the amount of $5,000.

  • And the NFA Adán Medrano Legacy Award in Film is a $10,000 grant for “dynamic, Latinx cinema production by emerging filmmakers that contribute towards a deeper understanding of Latinx expression and identity” in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

  • In addition to its Fund for the Arts, NALAC, in collaboration with the Surdna Foundation runs the Catalyst for Change Fellowship program.

    • Launched in 2020, the fellowships support “US and Puerto Rico-based Latinx artists in the advancement of racial justice through community-centered, artistic solutions.”

    • The fellowship supports individuals aged 18 or older who are committed to using participatory action research to effect systemic change in their communities through “an artistic project which creates the conditions required to disrupt systems of oppression.”

    • In its inaugural year of funding, the fellowship supported 11 artists and arts organizations. For additional information about the kinds of artists and projects supported, see the program’s grants page.

Another recent addition to NALAC’s grantmaking programs is the Border Narrative Change Grant program, which is conducted in collaboration with the Ford Foundation and supports “artists/ensembles, cultural workers, collectives and organizations that embody the stories, cultural knowledge and innovation of border communities and/or migrant populations.”

  • Grants stemming from this program have prioritized the stories of marginalized peoples, authentic voices and community wellbeing.

Finally, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, NALAC launched its Actos de Confianza: Relief Grants Program. These grants are awarded in collaboration with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Intercultural Leadership Institute and support “Latinx artists and arts organizations who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.”

  • Inaugural grants were awarded in the amounts of $2,500 to “artists and cultural workers” and $5,000 to organizations experiencing financial hardship.

  • The first round of funding ended in 2021, and it is unclear if this grantmaking program will continue in the coming years.

Important Grant Details:

Because a significant portion of its grantmaking is conducted in collaboration with other foundations, its is difficult to assess this funder’s total annual grantmaking. Grants tend to be awarded in set amounts ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, and NALAC’s grantees tend to be small- to medium-sized arts organizations, as well as individual artists.

  • Grantmaking is generally limited to the U.S. and Puerto Rico, except for the Border Narrative Change program, which supports projects in both the U.S. and Mexico.

  • NALAC runs open application programs for all of its current programs and posts detailed information about eligibility, guidelines and due dates on its individual program pages.

  • NALAC accepts applications for each of its programs, but eligibility and due dates vary significantly.

  • For additional information about the kinds of projects and artists NALAC supports, see its grants page.

Grantseekers may reach out to the association via its contact page or by email.

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