2022 Creative Native Call for Art Submissions Open 

September 27, 2022, Washington, DC: The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is excited to announce the 5^th annual Creative Native Call for Art is accepting submissions now through October 21, 2022. 

Creative Native is a call for art that supports young Indigenous artists ages 5-24 years old by providing them an opportunity to receive national recognition and an award of $300.00. An artist between the ages of 15-24 will also be recognized as the grand prize winner, have their art featured on the cover of CNAY’S 2022 State of Native Youth Report, and receive a $1,000.00 award. The cover artist will be flown to Washington, D.C., to participate in the report release event on November 18, 2022.  All submissions will be featured in the CNAY Creative Native Gallery.

This year, art submissions must be inspired by the prompt: identity. This year’s theme focuses on what makes you who you are. Native youth creatives: How do you center your identity? Is it your culture, education, gender, lived experience? What makes you, you?

“Creative Native has given me the platform and tools I need in order to pursue my dreams,” says 2021 Grand Prize Winner, KamiJo Whiteclay, “I feel honored to be involved with all the wonderful work they’re doing for native youth.”

Creative Native also presents a new and exciting way to engage youth in the Generation Indigenous National Native Youth Network. The Gen-I initiative is focused on removing barriers that stand between Native American youth and opportunities to succeed. Artists who submit to the Creative Native Call for Art will have their submissions counted as their Gen-I Challenge activities and those over 14 will be recognized as Gen-I Ambassadors. As Ambassadors, the artists are invited to join our network of Native leaders and get continued access to exclusive leadership and advocacy opportunities. Click here to create an account and log into the new Gen-I Network portal. 

The Creative Native Call for Art will continue accepting submissions until 11:59pm EST on October 21, 2022. Submissions will be accepted electronically through the Creative Native Entry Form. If you have any questions, please contact Cordelia Falls Down at cordelia.fallsdown@aspeninstitute.org.