Artists across Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are being encouraged to apply for a regional grant program aimed at investing in Pacific creativity and cultural preservation.
The Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund (PJAF) is now accepting applications, offering individual awards between $500 and $6,000.
Most awards fall between $500 and $2,500, and applications close June 2.
The grant is open to artists, cultural practitioners, and tradition bearers living in Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the CNMI. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and demonstrate a strong connection to community, culture, and creative work. No formal degree is required.
Sen. Shelly Calvo, chair of the Guam legislative committee on the arts and culture, emphasized that birthplace is not a factor in eligibility.
"Applicants do not need to be born and raised in these jurisdictions to qualify for the Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund," Calvo said. "The grant is open to individuals who reside in Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa, and who actively contribute to the arts, culture, and traditions of their communities."
She added that PJAF values "authenticity and the connection between the artists and their place, whether they are tradition bearers, cultural practitioners, or artists expressing the evolving stories of the Pacific."
PJAF was launched in 2021 with funding from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and is administered by Creative West, a western regional arts nonprofit. The program was co-designed by artists and cultural leaders from Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa to reflect the diversity of Pacific arts and traditions.
The fund supports a wide range of creative disciplines, including visual art, dance, weaving, music, storytelling, poetry, culinary arts, film, and healing practices.
Calvo said she first learned about the fund through discussions with regional arts advocates and later met with Creative West CEO Christian Gaines and Pacific Jurisdictions manager Sandy Flores to ensure Guam artists were being fully represented.
"Given Guam's deep cultural richness and the immense talent within our artistic community, I just wanted to ensure that our island artists had access to this funding," she said. "Engaging in discussions with grant administrators, reviewing past initiatives, and advocating for inclusion in this program were key steps in making sure Guam could benefit from these resources."
Calvo has also been in discussions with Guam CAHA Director Angie Taitague on how to create sustainable support for the arts on island. "Things like these reinforce the importance of securing grants like PJAF to sustain our cultural landscape," she said.
Informational workshops for prospective applicants will beheld in the coming month.
