Mid-America Arts Alliance Awards $180,000 in Grants to 15 Craft Organizations
The Heartland Craft Guilds Capacity Support Grants from the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) have provided $180,000 in funding to 15 cultural organizations and craft guilds across the region. Each of the selected groups will receive $12,000 in unrestricted funds. This nonprofit organization supports Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Native Nations. Among the grantees for 2026 are four organizations from Texas: Brazos Spinners and Weavers Guild, Native American Cultural Center, Medicinal Gourds, and SiNaCa Studios, focusing on crafts such as quilting, rug making, weaving, and pottery. Medicinal Gourds plans to use its grant to maintain traditional berimbau-making in Capoeira Angola. The announcement, made on August 22, 2026, via Glasstire, highlighted the significance of preserving craft traditions, according to Christine Bial.
Key facts
- M-AAA awarded $180,000 in grants to 15 organizations.
- Each grant is $12,000 in unrestricted operating funds.
- The grants are part of the Heartland Craft Guilds Capacity Support Grants.
- M-AAA serves Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Native Nations.
- Four Texas organizations received grants: Brazos Spinners and Weavers Guild, Native American Cultural Center, Medicinal Gourds, and SiNaCa Studios.
- Brazos Spinners and Weavers Guild is in Bryan, active since 1976.
- Native American Cultural Center organizes the Austin Pow Wow, founded in 1991.
- Medicinal Gourds is in Austin and preserves African diasporic traditions, including berimbau-making.
- SiNaCa Studios School of Glass and Gallery is in Fort Worth, founded in 2007.
- Grantees also receive professional development and capacity-building opportunities.
- Christine Bial is Director of Arts & Humanities Grant Programs at M-AAA.
Entities
Institutions
- Mid-America Arts Alliance
- Brazos Spinners and Weavers Guild
- Native American Cultural Center
- Medicinal Gourds
- SiNaCa Studios School of Glass and Gallery
- Glasstire
Locations
- Arkansas
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Bryan
- Austin
- Fort Worth