Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program

[ClayB]

I was talking to Clay Miller this morning and somehow or other, this subject came up and I decided maybe it should be posted here on the forum too. I think every state in the US has an arts council. You can do a serch on the internet and find the website for your own state. Many states have a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. Through this program, master artists are paid to pass on traditional skills to people that want to learn, therefore keeping the tradition alive. Many different crafts are eligible for the grants through the program including saddle making, knife making, braiding, bit and spur making etc. You have to apply for these programs up to a year in advance, so there can be some planning involved and each state administers thier program differently so you have to talk to someone and see what is available in your state. Here in North Dakota, grants are available for up to $2000 with half that amount being paid to the master, the other half being available for materials. I have participated in the program twice here in ND to learn how to build saddles. At the end of the program we are required to write a final report and then give a demonstration somewhere on the craft that we learned. We did our demonstration at an art festival in Jamestown and it was a lot of fun and a good way to meet and talk to a lot of people. I would like to encourage you all to check and see what is available in your states. I was pretty surprised to find out they actually give out money like this, but hey, it's our tax dollars at work!

Here are photos of the 2 saddles I completed through this grant program.

[abn]

If anyone who lives in Virginia is interested, this program is administered by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the web site is:

http://www.virginiafolklife.org/apprentice...enticeship.html

[anne newkold]

might try one of these also

http://www.nea.gov/partner/state/SAA_RAO_list.html

[JohnD]

Here's what I found for NH. The list, although it says its not a complete list, does not include leather carving, It does include wood carving and also harness making. Which leads me to believe leather carving would be acceptable.

http://www.nh.gov/nharts/grants/artists/tr...enticeships.htm

John

[BradB]

Here is Washington States:

http://www.arts.wa.gov/folk-arts/documents...ceship-2008.pdf

[Jarl]

did some looking around and couldnt really find anything useful for PA, but then again that could just be me not knowing exactly what to look for.

[tashabear]

did some looking around and couldnt really find anything useful for PA, but then again that could just be me not knowing exactly what to look for.

http://www.pacouncilonthearts.org/pca.cfm?...amp;level=First <-- look for "Folk Arts Apprenticeships"

[equiss]

I was talking to Clay Miller this morning and somehow or other, this subject came up and I decided maybe it should be posted here on the forum too. I think every state in the US has an arts council. You can do a serch on the internet and find the website for your own state. Many states have a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. Through this program, master artists are paid to pass on traditional skills to people that want to learn, therefore keeping the tradition alive. Many different crafts are eligible for the grants through the program including saddle making, knife making, braiding, bit and spur making etc. You have to apply for these programs up to a year in advance, so there can be some planning involved and each state administers thier program differently so you have to talk to someone and see what is available in your state. Here in North Dakota, grants are available for up to $2000 with half that amount being paid to the master, the other half being available for materials. I have participated in the program twice here in ND to learn how to build saddles. At the end of the program we are required to write a final report and then give a demonstration somewhere on the craft that we learned. We did our demonstration at an art festival in Jamestown and it was a lot of fun and a good way to meet and talk to a lot of people. I would like to encourage you all to check and see what is available in your states. I was pretty surprised to find out they actually give out money like this, but hey, it's our tax dollars at work!

Here are photos of the 2 saddles I completed through this grant program.

Clay - do you have a copy of your grant description that I could look at? I am getting ready to submit one here and need an idea of the appropriate "language" to use. thank you for the help!

[ClayB]

I sent you a PM with copies of my filled out grant application. I hope it gives you some idea of what to do. The guy that runs the program here in ND is very helpful. He had me email him my answers to all the questions and then pointed out any areas that needed clarification or more detail. That way everything was done right before the panel saw my application. I have heard that it isn't quite as good of an experience in other states. I wonder if the low population here in ND makes for less competition for these grants. If there is anything I can do to help anyone that wants to participate in one of these programs, let me know and I'll sure help if I can. It's a great program if you can get accepted.

[King's X]

The Arts Council here in State told me that they didn't know what I was talking about. He then directed me to a private school for that kind of instruction???

Greetings from Round Rock, Texas

~ Remember - Stop & Strop ! ~