Traditional Arts Apprenticeship

April 13, 2023 | Agency Apprentice Susan Brabenec works in Tony Gilson's shop Sustaining Cultural Heritage through Collaboration The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship (TAA) program provides support for mentor artists to work with apprentices to build understanding and proficiency in folk and traditional art forms. By supporting exemplary practitioners working with dedicated apprentices, this program allows for concentrated study and cultural transmission. Traditional Arts Apprenticeship awards support the teaching and sharing of important cultural traditions and enrich the lives of people throughout the state. GRANT AWARDS Mentor artists may request up to $4,000 to work with one, and, if appropriate, two apprentices. At least 50 percent of the request must be used for mentor artist honoraria. No match is required. Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grantees generally receive a portion of their request relative to their application score. ELIGIBILITY The following eligibility requirements apply to all applicants: Applications must be submitted by the mentor artist. Mentor artists must be 18 years of age. Mentor artists may live in another state if there is no suitable artist in Ohio. Apprentices must live in Ohio. Apprentices must demonstrate interest and competency in the traditional art form prior to the apprenticeship. Both mentors and apprentices must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens and must have lived in the country for at least one year prior to the deadline. If an apprentice is a minor, a parent or guardian has the right to request a criminal background check from prospective mentor artists prior to their participation in this program. TAA funds cannot be used for: apprentice stipends, out-of-state travel, in-state apprentice travel, tools and supplies that will remain with the apprentice, and ongoing class or educational expenses. Contemporary artistic disciplines are not eligible. Please refer to Appendix B for other OAC funding restrictions that may affect your apprenticeship’s eligibility. HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS Traditional arts are part of the cultural heritage of a group of people whose members share a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. Mentor artists and apprentices apply together to this program. Mentor artists should have achieved a high level of skill in a particular traditional art form, be regarded as experts by their peers, and have learned and developed their skills within a traditional context. Apprentices should demonstrate strong motivation to learn the nuances of the tradition, and a commitment to carry the tradition on in the future. Applicants are eligible for only one award per year. Applications are accepted for apprenticeships in all forms of traditional arts, including traditional music and instrument making, sacred and secular crafts, occupational traditions, folk and ethnic dance, and traditional arts associated with annual celebrations. The applying mentor must demonstrate that they are an active member of the culture or occupational group whose tradition they are sharing, and that the tradition is being shared within a culture or community of practitioners, not learned through an academic setting. The mentor and the apprentice work together in an intensive, yearlong, learning experience. Apprentices learn directly by observing, imitating, and refining their artistic work based on the guidance of the mentor artist. Skills are typically learned directly through observation and imitation, rather than through classes, books, or other means of instruction. The sharing of the cultural importance and history of the tradition is a key component to a successful apprenticeship. An apprenticeship work plan should allow for in-depth learning that encompasses the context of the culture, the development of a mentoring relationship, and the acquisition of both techniques and artistry. The mentor artist is responsible for monitoring the apprentice’s progress as outlined in the application work plan. The apprenticeship must include a minimum of 50 hours of direct, one-on-one instruction, provided via in-person and/or virtual sessions (typically bi-weekly or monthly), conducted over the course of a year. During the yearlong apprenticeship period, a site visit may be made by OAC staff or a folklorist to document the teaching/learning process. Photographs of the session may be taken, and recorded interviews may be conducted. In addition, the mentor artist and apprentice are expected to give a joint community presentation near the end of the apprenticeship period (e.g., performing at a public event, offering a class, holding an open studio session, or exhibiting at a local library or gallery), which must occur in Ohio. After accepting a grant award in ARTIE, grantees will automatically receive a partial payment of 50% of their total grant award. Final payment of the grant will be processed once a final report is received and approved. OAC staff may request additional information regarding grant activities prior to approving the final payment. HOW TO APPLY Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program applications and support materials must be submitted via the ARTIE system. Please refer to Appendix G for a step-by-step look at applying for, accepting, and managing a grant through this program. EVALUATION AND SCORING A panel of folklorists, arts professionals, traditional artists, and other community members meet to evaluate and score applications. Panel meetings are open to the public through a free video conferencing platform. Applicants are strongly encouraged to listen online. For details on panel meeting dates, times, and instructions, visit the OAC online grants calendar. At the panel meeting, panelists discuss how well each application satisfies the program’s evaluation criteria. Panelists highlight strengths and weaknesses, discussing all aspects of the application and its support materials. Following the public discussion,