ClayB Report post Posted February 7, 2007 I got an email today from the ND Council for the Arts. This is the time of year to start working on applications for grants from them. Here in ND, they have a program titled the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. The purpose of this program is to help keep certain traditional arts alive in our state. These can includes lots of different art forms. Some of what has been funded in North Dakota are Dakotah storytelling, Vietnamese embroidery, Czech Easter egg decorating, Armenian copper bas relief work, blacksmithing, saddle making, German-Russian willow basketry, Hidatsa quillwork, Sudanese music etc. In the past few years I was awarded two of these grants to help me learn saddlemaking. There are quite a few states that have similar programs to this. If you google your state's Council for the Arts or Traditional Arts Program, you can find out what may be available in your state. Here in ND, grants are issued for up to $2000. When I applied, half of that money went to paying for materials, and the other half went towards paying a master craftsman for teaching the apprentice. Not only did I learn how to build saddles from an experienced saddlemaker through this program, I got to keep both of the saddles I made. The National Endowment for the Arts has always been a controvesial issue. This is one program that they sponser that I found useful. I would encourage others to check into what is available in your state and possibly recieve some help to learn something new (or old) Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chitin Report post Posted February 8, 2007 Oh wow - that sounds like a great idea! I'll have to look it up in New York. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Regis Report post Posted February 8, 2007 I know that Florida has same/similar program. I know of one master wood carver that participated. Master & student must apply togather. Regis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
