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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106606-106607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31224]

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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

National Endowment for the Arts

Tribal Consultation

AGENCY: National Endowment for the Arts.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 
tribal consultation policy, the NEA solicits written comments from 
federally recognized tribes.

DATES: Written comments for the FY2025 Tribal Consultation will be 
solicited for a 60-day window or until March 6, 2025. Comments must be 
submitted to the office listed in the address section below on or 
before the close of business on March 6, 2025. Comments received after 
that date will be considered to the extent practicable. A summary 
report of the written comments, NEA responses, recommendations, and 
items identified for follow-up or additional action will be drafted and 
distributed via the Federal Register no later than 30 days after the 
closing of the comment period. Following dissemination of the draft 
summary, the record will remain open for 21 days to allow tribes to 
submit written testimony or additional comments before the report is 
finalized and published on the NEA website.

ADDRESSES: Please send comments to Native Arts Working Group, National 
Endowment for the Arts, via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through this Request for Comments, the NEA 
is seeking input and comments from elected or appointed tribal leaders 
and

[[Page 106607]]

officials or their authorized representatives. This Request for 
Comments also will be posted to the agency's website.
    Subject issues for consultation and related questions are listed 
below.

1. NEA Resources

    The NEA, established by Congress in 1965, is an independent federal 
agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in 
communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for 
the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation 
and practice, the NEA aims to foster and sustain an environment in 
which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. This is 
accomplished primarily by providing resources to support the creative 
lives of all communities in the United States.
    Grants are awarded for specific projects to 501(c)(3) nonprofit 
organizations, federally recognized tribes, or units of state or local 
government. Individual makers, artists, and culture bearers are 
recognized and supported through programs such as the NEA National 
Heritage Fellowships, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, and Creative 
Writing Fellowships. Forty percent of the NEA's program budget is 
granted to State Arts Agencies and Regional Arts Organizations, which 
make subgrants to support additional arts activities across the nation.
    i. What is your awareness of our agency's efforts in your community 
and nationally?
    ii. Have NEA resources affected your tribal community? If so, how?
    iii. To what extent do you see the arts and cultural activities of 
your tribal community reflected in the resources we offer?
    iv. The review criteria for our primary grant program, Grants for 
Arts Projects, includes artistic excellence, which is defined as ``The 
quality of the artists and other key individuals, creative process, 
works of art, organizations, arts education providers, artistic 
partners, and/or services involved in the project and their relevance 
to the audience or communities the project aims to serve.'' Does this 
definition of artistic excellence resonate with the artistic and 
cultural activities of your tribal community? How could this criteria 
better assess the creative projects of applicants from your community?

2. Executive Order 14112

    The NEA is committed to adhering to the provisions outlined in E.O. 
14112: Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations To 
Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of 
Tribal Self-Determination, dated December 11, 2023. The NEA has made 
progress on those commitments as outlined in our Equity Action Plan, 
outreach to Native communities to participate in our Grants for Arts 
Projects grant opportunities, and our overall tribal consultation 
approach. As we continue to improve our outreach to Native communities, 
we will provide updates on changes that are implemented to better serve 
Native constituents. The NEA is in the process of recruiting a new NEA 
Director of Native Arts & Tribal Affairs to lead agency efforts to 
better reach and serve the tribal communities.
    i. How can the NEA best prioritize its support for tribal 
sovereignty and self-governance?
    ii. How can NEA programs provide your community with the 
flexibility to improve its economic growth and address your community's 
specific needs?
    iii. What funding and programmatic needs do you have?

3. Tribal Engagement

    In recent years, the NEA has made grants to tribal governments and 
Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs). We also have recognized 
Indigenous artists with NEA National Heritage Fellowships. These direct 
grants to tribes, tribal citizens, and TCUs are in addition to the 
grants we make to Native-serving nonprofits.
    i. How can the NEA expand on this engagement with tribes and 
increase awareness of these opportunities?
    ii. If the NEA has the resources to send staff representatives to 
in-person events (e.g. national conferences and regional convenings of 
importance to tribal communities), where would our participation be 
most effective? Can you provide a point-of-contact for follow up?

4. Federal Resources for Native Arts & Cultural Activities

    The NEA has previously provided annual updates of the Federal 
Resources for Native Arts & Cultural Activities, which is a 
consolidation of opportunities offered by federal agencies for 
organizations looking for funding and other resources to support Native 
arts and cultural activities.

i. Have you ever accessed this publication? Is this publication a 
useful resource to make available to tribal communities?

5. Tribal Consultation

    The NEA's Tribal Consultation Policy, formally established in 
October 2021, is being reviewed for any necessary updates. In order to 
assist us in our review of the Policy, please share your thoughts on 
the following questions:
    i. What recommendations do you have regarding the NEA's Tribal 
Consultation Policy?

    Dated: December 20, 2024.
RaShaunda Thomas,
Deputy Director, Office of Administrative Services & Contracts, 
National Endowment for the Arts.
[FR Doc. 2024-31224 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7537-01-P
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