Urban Art Biz- Building Your Artist Bundle is a series of four workshops to help Indigenous Artists prepare a fully realized grant application in time for the spring 2027 funding deadlines. Our goal is to walk you through each step of the grant application process to help you increase your chances of securing funding for your project.

This workshop will be held IN PERSON.

Our second session – Wiinggashk (Sweetgrass) will delve into the heart of your application, the thoughts and words of your project description

Sweetgrass, or wiinggashk, represents kindness and healing. It is known for its gentle scent and reminds people of the importance of good thoughts, words, and actions. Sweetgrass usually sits in the southern doorway, although in some teachings it sits in the north. The southern doorway represents summer, a time of warmth, growth, and life. It is considered a grounding medicine that brings calmness. Sweetgrass is often called the hair of Mother Earth. This teaching reminds us that sweetgrass should be handled with gentleness and care. When harvesting sweetgrass, it is important to be gentle and mindful, taking only what is needed. There are different ways to braid sweetgrass, but one traditional method uses 21 strands divided into three sets of seven before braiding. The number seven holds deep meaning in Anishinaabe culture. It is connected to the Seven Generations before us, the Seven Grandfather Teachings, and the Seven Generations ahead. The three strands can also represent the mind, body, and spirit, or- in some teachings- love, kindness, and honesty.

Each of our four workshops will be led by an established Indigenous Artist or Relational Maker.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2027   1 – 3:30 PM   – Wiinggashk (Sweetgrass) – Thoughts and Words 

• Project Description – Who are you?  
• What do you want to create?
• When and where will this happen?
• Who is involved in the project?
• How will you create this project?
• Why is this project relevant?
• What artistic impact will this project have for you?

We ask that you bring:

1. A laptop, a tablet, something for you to take notes on.
2. The concept or idea you have for your project.
3. Any relevant information that might be useful in crafting your project description

Writing about your project can be challenging. You have an idea of what you want to do, you can see a vision of it in your head, you can talk with great passion about the process you hope to undertake to make your vision a reality, BUT how do you translate all that information into a concise, descriptive, well-thought out and engaging Project Description in 1500 characters or 750 words? This is the heart of every grant application, and we want to help you create a description worthy of funding.

Light refreshments will be offered.

MAXIMUM 20 participants.

Urban Art Biz is a series of workshops focused on the business side of art from an Indigenous perspective. Urban Art Biz was developed by Creative Manitoba’s Indigenous Programs and is presented in partnership with Urban Shaman Contemporary Indigenous Art Gallery.

For information on all sessions in Urban Art Biz – Building Your Artist Bundle series follow this link.

The workshops will be held IN PERSON at Creative Manitoba. Creative Manitoba is located on the 2^nd floor of the new Market Lands Building – Unit C, 148 King St., between City Hall and Red River College. Entry is on the south side of the building facing William Ave.  An entry code will be sent to you upon registration.

Questions? Please email indigenous@creativemanitoba.ca