Lannan Foundation

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Welcome to Lannan Online

Lannan Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to cultural freedom, diversity and creativity through projects which support exceptional contemporary artists and writers, as well as inspired Native activists in rural indigenous communities.

The foundation recognizes the profound and often unquantifiable value of the creative process and is willing to take risks and make substantial investments in ambitious and experimental thinking. Understanding that globalization threatens all cultures and ecosystems, the foundation is particularly interested in projects that encourage freedom of inquiry, imagination, and expression.

The foundation supports this mission with long-term special projects requiring multi-year commitments of funding and technical assistance in the areas of contemporary visual art, literature, indigenous communities, and issues of cultural freedom.

VISUAL ARTS
The goals of this program are to support the creativity of exceptional contemporary artists, foster serious criticism and discussion of contemporary art, and to bring new and experimental works of art to a wide audience.

LITERATURE
The Literary program was established in 1987 to support the creation of exceptional poetry and prose written originally in the English language and to increase the audience for contemporary literature. The foundation honors writers and poets whose work reflects and changes our understanding of the world as well as literary nonprofit organizations that have similar goals.

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Initiated in 1994, this program supports the resolve of rural Native people to renew their communities through their own institutions and traditions. It focuses on projects consistent with traditional values in the areas of education, Native culture, the revival and preservation of languages, legal rights, and environmental protection and advocacy.

CULTURAL FREEDOM
As defined by the foundation, cultural freedom is the right of individuals and communities to define and protect valued and diverse ways of life currently threatened by globalization. In 1999 the foundation established the Prize for Cultural Freedom, an annual award designed to recognize people whose extraordinary and courageous work celebrates the human right to freedom of imagination, inquiry, and expression. In 2003, the first cultural freedom fellowship was awarded.

AWARDS and FELLOWSHIPS
The foundation also gives awards and fellowships to writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, Native community activists, and in the area of cultural freedom. Awards recognize individuals for extraordinary work in their fields. Fellowships provide time and support to continue with or to complete specific projects and also recognize those who show potential for future outstanding work. Candidates for awards and fellowships are selected by an anonymous nomination process and approved by the board of directors. Applications and letters of inquiry are not accepted for awards or fellowships in any of these programs.