Native American Arts Center

Since its founding in 1946, Idyllwild Arts has always been firmly rooted in respect for and reverence of Native American arts and culture. While the Summer Program has offered dynamic Native American Arts workshops and programming for over 70 years, the Native American Arts Center opened in 2022 to expand these offerings year-round, effectively establishing Idyllwild Arts as a leader in supporting Indigenous artistic expression and cultural affirmation. The center nurtures relationships with many Indigenous communities, provides access to arts education for Native students, and hosts a week-long Native American art festival. The center is dedicated to supporting Indigenous artists’ professional development in a safe space to connect with nature and create new works through artist residencies.

A father and daughter working on ceramics at the NAAC festival.

Programs

The Native American Arts Center curates a robust calendar of workshops, performances, lectures, exhibitions, and other engaging community events led by Indigenous teaching artists, traditional knowledge bearers, and scholars in many fields who cross-pollinate their talents while providing valuable educational opportunities.

Workshops

2025 Summer Workshops Will Take Place June 9-27, 2025

Thought-provoking workshops stimulate conversations, empower creative contributions, and strengthen community.

Festival Week

The Native American Arts Center produces and hosts the annual Native American Arts Festival Week, designed to enhance and add depth to the Summer Program workshop experience. The week-long Native arts festival hosted by the academy festival center provides a provocative learning experience by bringing together distinguished artists, scholars, and cultural specialists to present performances, demonstrations, films, exhibitions, showcases, and the popular Michael Kabotie Lecture Series.

Lectures

Stimulating lectures by notable visiting guest artists regularly provide new perspectives, elevate discourse, and challenge traditional perspectives.

Explore Past Lectures

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for Native American students.

Learn More

NAAC Building

Working with Sander Architects, the NAAC has plans to build a new physical space for the year-round programming already underway. As part of the construction, the NAAC will also oversee the Meadows Restoration Project to protect a sacred Cahuilla archeological site on the Idyllwild Arts campus.

Are you interested in joining our Native American Arts Center Advisory committee? Please contact Olivia Webb, Native American Arts Center Assistant and Meadows Restoration Project Coordinator: owebb@idyllwildarts.org

Idyllwild Arts Land Acknowledgement

Idyllwild Arts respectfully acknowledges the Qawishpa Cahuillangnah (also known as Cahuilla Band of Indians) and all nine sovereign Bands of Cahuilla people who have stewarded this land throughout the generations and continue to steward this land for all future generations.