Over the centuries, traditional crafts, music, dance and stories have been passed down from person to person through families, communities or within tribal, ethnic or occupational groups. Apprenticeship Grants are designed to help perpetuate this transmission of traditional skills and cultural repertoires by supporting one-on-one teaching between a master artist and a mid-level apprentice. The master artist and the apprentice may meet together every day, every week, or just occasionally, but generally an apprenticeship lasts for an extended period of time. The goals of the Apprenticeship Grants are to recognize master artists for their skills, help compensate them for their time and assist the apprentice in becoming a master artist who, some day, will pass this knowledge along to subsequent generations.

Application deadline is January 15.  Awards are announced March 1. Projects can begin anytime after April 1 and last three to twelve months.

• Grants up to $2,000 are awarded to artist pairs from the same cultural heritage who demonstrate artistic excellence and propose a workable teaching plan.
• A master artist (teacher) and an experienced apprentice (student) design a plan of study and submit an application together.
• Apprenticeship grants can pay for the master’s teaching fees and related expenses such as tools, supplies and travel.
• Apprenticeship studies last from three to twelve months.
• Master and apprentice must each submit samples of their own work. 
• Recipients are encouraged to design a public presentation of material learned through the apprenticeship and may be invited to perform at a public event produced by the Folk Arts Program.

Eligibility

An apprenticeship is a learning situation in which a master artist teaches skills to one student over an extended period of time. The teacher must be recognized within his or her community as one of the very best artists in the field.The apprentice is someone who has already begun learning the art form (or a related one) and wants to further develop his or her skills. Art forms must represent shared cultural traditions of both applicants. The master artist does not have to reside in Utah, but the apprentice must be a Utah resident. Both master and apprentice must have a valid social security number. Applicants are also required to apply for a free Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number.

Award Amount

Using the application form as a guide, master and apprentice artists can calculate their expenses and request up to $2000 to support the teaching situation. Funds can be used to pay the master artist for the time spent teaching, purchase supplies needed for the teaching process, and reimburse the master and apprentice artist for travel expenses. 

Payments

Payments are made in two installments.  The first payment is made when the teaching project is scheduled to begin. This payment covers the purchase of supplies and materials and one-half the expected teaching expenses. During the project, the Folk Arts Program staff will be in touch to follow the progress of the project, and they will schedule a visit with the master and apprentice when the project nears completion. At that time a final check will be written for the balance of the unpaid grant.  Payments will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as income, and recipients are responsible for calculating the amount of money they owe in taxes.

How to Apply

First, contact a Folk Arts Program staff member to discuss the availability of funding for your intended teaching project. Then either request an application form to be sent in the mail, or download an application from this website. Together the master and apprentice should develop a teaching schedule and work plan that includes the meeting schedule and site, supplies, and materials needed to complete the teaching project. Both master and apprentice artists must also submit samples of their own work to prove the quality of their artistry. Completed applications must be received by January 15th.  Notification of award will be made by March 1st and projects can begin April 1. A valid social security number or employer identification number is required of the applicants and must be confirmed before funds are released. (A photocopied picture of social security card is needed for verification before payments can be made.)

Application Forms

Click on the type of document you want to download:
MSWord Document or PDF Format

Evaluation Criteria

Apprenticeship Grants are reviewed by the Folk Arts Advisory Panel. They will review the grants and recommend funding based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated artistic excellence
• Masters must be recognized by their communities and peers for the excellence of their work.
• Apprentices must have some familiarity with the art form to be studied or be experienced in a closely related art form.
• The traditionality of the art form and of the practitioners
• The project’s likelihood of success based on teaching plan and schedule, budget and the applicants’ dedication to the art form
• Cultural diversity and geographic distribution represented by project applicants
• Priority is given to art forms with few practitioners.
• Applicants younger than 18 years of age are allowed to apply as apprentices when their artistic traditions are typically passed down to persons under 18.
• In-family apprenticeships are encouraged.

Administered through the
Utah Arts Council Folk Arts Program,
617 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.

Contact Craig Miller, (801) 533-5760