Fiscal Partners
The people and projects we support
In Progress is currently providing fiscal sponsorship for 7 digital arts programs that include the following:
Art in the Present moment
IP artist Xavier Tavera received a special award from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in 2023 to invest in his work as a practicing photographer and visual artist. In Progress is still holding a few of these dollars for Xavier while he determines how he will apply remaining funds towards improving his digital tools
Bitterroot Podcast Series
The Bitterroot Podcast Series features interviews with Hmong crew members speaking about their first experiences contributing to a Hmong narrative feature length film production.
Coquito
COQUITO is a feature length documentary film about the traditional Puertorican drink Coquito. The documentary explores these connections; bringing to light its hidden history of business, colonialism, labor, agriculture, and politics. COQUITO tells the history of Puerto Rican culture through this quintessential Christmas drink, and how it is linked to our history, agriculture, economy and politics. The film is due for completion December 2025.
Dhoua Vue - Youth Leadership Award
Dhoua Vue received an award from the Ann Bancroft Foundation to purchase a laptop and editing software that will assist her in her professional development as filmmaker
Hidden In My Heart
Filmmaker Sai Thao recently received the Facing Race Award (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation) and the Virginia Binger Award (McKnight Foundation) for her outstanding community leadership in the arts. She will use these funds towards the completion of a feature length documentary about grief, family and her ties to being Hmong.
HMONG FUNERAL
HMONG FUNERAL is a feature length documentary film about traditional Hmong funerals and how the pandemic and subsequent death of elders impacted and to certain extent redefined the grieving process for Hmong families.
IHHTT
Ib Haiv Hmoob Tiv Thaiv (or just HTT for short), or United Hmong Resistance in English, is a group of Hmong community members who came together during the beginning of 'Operation Metro Surge’ in 2025. They have been dedicated to supporting community initiatives and bringing resources and education to the Hmong community. Members in HTT are parents, story tellers, artists, healers, organizers and concerned neighbors. Though they each bring individual creative practices, the foundation of the group is rooted in resilience and camaraderie.
Jerome Film Cohort
In 2024, The Jerome Foundation approached In Progress about providing fiscal oversight for a cohort of filmmakers working to redefine how films are supported - specifically targeting artist groups that traditionally have not been well represented in the past. In Progress is now entering year 2 of this partnership which is expected to extend into 2026.
Neuveausoul Productions
Neuveausoul Productions (led by Nicole Smith and supported by May Yang) received a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council to lead three workshops for Black/African/African American and Southeast Asian participants to create original narratives grounded in the written and/or vocally-expressive formats about their cultural identities.
Once Upon A Time
In 2024, IP artist Dan Yang received a grant from the MN State Arts Board to produce a children’s animated series centered in Hmong culture. The project was a huge success and now Dan Yang is now adding to the anthology for 2025/2026, with receipt of an additional grant award from the MN State Arts Board.
Street Stops & Mountain Tops
IP artist Tou Saiko Lee has been promoting music and cultural collaborations between Hmong artists in the United States and those living in other parts of the world. Every few years, Street Stops and Mountain Tops raises enough funds for artists to visit, perform and share their love for music and the arts.