Juneau-based actor Xáalnook Erin Tripp was recently named one of the 2023 Artists in Business Leadership Fellows for First Peoples Fund program. Tripp said she intends to use to program’s grant funding to set up a professional recording studio in Juneau for her voice acting career and to share with other artists in the community. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau-based actor Xáalnook Erin Tripp was recently named one of the 2023 Artists in Business Leadership Fellows for First Peoples Fund program. Tripp said she intends to use to program’s grant funding to set up a professional recording studio in Juneau for her voice acting career and to share with other artists in the community. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

First Peoples Fund to help Juneau actor create recording studio for voice acting

Xáalnook Erin Tripp among artists with Southeast ties to earn the award.

Patrons of Perseverance Theatre are no strangers to the power of Xáalnook Erin Tripp’s voice and ability to share a narrative, and now thanks to a recent grant awarded to the actor, she’ll be able to expand her reach and extend that opportunity to others.

Earlier this week, Tripp was named one of the 2023 Artists in Business Leadership Fellows, a prestigious award that celebrates Indigenous artists and includes a $10,000 grant to each artist aimed at offering a financial resource for the artists to aid them in furthering their interests in the arts.

In addition to Tripp being named, Tlingit multi-medium artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit was also recognized as a 2023 Cultural Capital Fellow for the program, along with contemporary Haida artist Robert Charles Davidson Guud San Glans being named a 2023 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award honoree for his work in Haida and Tlingit carving, dance, sculpture and storytelling.

Tlingit multi-medium artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit was recognized as a 2023 Cultural Capital Fellow for First Peoples Fund program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Tlingit multi-medium artist Alison Bremner Nax̲shag̲eit was recognized as a 2023 Cultural Capital Fellow for First Peoples Fund program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Born and raised in Juneau, Tripp is well known in the community for her contributions to the local theater community and has been featured in productions across the state for her spectacular performances. Most recently, Tripp said she has been further exploring the voice acting industry, and that intention is what led her to apply for the First Peoples Fund fellowship.

“I was very excited and it is such an honor to win,” she said. “For me, it’s about being able to take the next step in myself as an artist to have more agency and this is another step for that.”

With the $10,000 grant, Tripp said she plans to use the funds to set up a professional recording studio that she can then use to work in the voice acting field while still living in Juneau.

Tripp said it’s also important to her to give back to the community that has supported her throughout her career as an artist and said she plans to open up the studio to other artists in the Juneau or Alaska community who are interested or could find benefit in using it to further their career in the arts as well.

“I plan on it being a community resource and so that other people can create things in the community, I’m just really excited,” she said.

In addition to the First Peoples Fund, last month Tripp was also accepted into the esteemed Penguin Random House Audio Narrator Mentorship Program, a six-month-long mentorship where she will work with producers from the Penguin Random to learn more about the audiobook industry and production.

She said the timing for the award grant and mentorship program coincides perfectly with her intentions to become more involved in the voice acting industry, which she said can be a difficult field to get into coming from Alaska where there aren’t as many immediate work or opportunities compared to bigger cities in the Lower 48. She said she is grateful for the opportunities that the award opened up for her, and said she hopes more people in the Alaska Native community can benefit from it as well and bring more representation into the arts.

“I think it’s really amazing because I think coming from Alaska, not just in Juneau, it feels like it’s a small town,” Tripp said. “So just to see yourself and other Alaska Native artists honored, it is really nice to see us getting these awards and achieving these things.”

• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Sept. 23

Here’s what to expect this week.

Ian Worden addresses Bartlett Regional Hospital’s board of directors via Zoom during a meeting Tuesday night where he was subsequently hired as the new interim chief executive officer. He is expected to begin the job within a month. (Screenshot from Bartlett Regional Hospital video)
Bartlett Regional Hospital, during unusual board meeting, makes yet another interim CEO hire

Longtime Seattle-area executive unanimously chosen as hospital’s third leader in past two months.

Lt. Krag Campbell with the Juneau Police Department smiles for a photo Tuesday evening outside of City Hall. Campbell is one of two finalists seeking the chief position at the department. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Juneau officer seeking department’s top spot says 21 years in community an asset

Lt. Krag Campbell one of two finalists for chief of police.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who became the first Alaska Native in Congress a year ago, discusses issues and adjusting to the national political scene on Sept. 8 as part of a three-day visit to Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A year after surprising victory, Peltola a popular target in Congress

Spending 9/11 with Biden, being top target of GOP now part of job while dealing with family matters.

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Permanent Fund improves after money-losing year but withdrawals still exceed earnings

Earnings need to average 5% plus inflation to be sustainable; hasn’t happened past five years.

Snotty Nose Rez Kids rappers Yung Trybez and Young D sing to the crowd during a performance as part of the final night of the Áak’w Rock music festival at Centennial Hall Saturday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Photos: Áak’w Rock wraps up

The three-day Indigenous music festival is scheduled to return in 2025.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read