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Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program Like its natural resources, Michigan's cultural traditions are a treasured resource to be nurtured for future generations. The Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program encourages cultural preservation, pride, and respect through grants of $2,000.00 made to master artists to teach their skills, techniques, and knowledge to others in their communities. The intent of this program is to recognize those master artists who maintain their traditions with excellence and according to the needs and aesthetics of their communities and to encourage and facilitate the learning and transmission of valued traditions. What is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a designated period of one-on-one training during which a student (the apprentice) learns a tradition through practical, hands-on experience under the guidance and instruction of a respected, accomplished traditional artist (the master). Apprenticeships usually last seven months, from February - August. [Click here to see list and information of participants] Who is eligible to apply? Apprenticeships may incorporate a wide range of ethnic, regional, and occupational traditions. Both master artist and apprentice should be residents of Michigan. Apprentices should have some experience in the tradition; they should not be beginners. Master artists should be among the finest practitioners of the tradition within their community. Although cross-cultural apprenticeships are possible, review panels generally give preference to funding apprenticeships where both the master and the student are from the same cultural group or community. Applicants are eligible to be awarded for up to two awards in a three-year period. How can I apply? Applicants must complete an MTAAP form including the portion to be filled out by the master artist and a separate portion to be filled out by the apprentice(s). The application package must also include samples of the master and apprentice's work; depending on the type of tradition, this might be photographs, objects, and/or audio tapes of performances. Applicants are encouraged to contact the MTAAP Coordinator [see contact info below] to discuss the application prior to submitting it. Applications, including supporting materials must be hand-delivered or postmarked by December 1 each year. [Click here to to download MTAAP application form] Who selects the awardees and what do they look for? A panel of invited specialists reviews the applications in early January. They look for strong evidence of excellence of mastery of art form (including recognition of the artist within his/her community), a description of the tradition and whether the cultural feature in question is traditional, evidence of the commitment of the master artist and apprentice to the apprenticeship, appropriateness of the plan of work, and what the prospective apprentice's motivations and intentions are in undertaking this joint effort. Review panel meetings are open to the public. When are the awards given? Announcements of the awardees are made in February. All apprenticeships must be completed by August 30 of the year in which they were awarded. For more information about the Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. Contact Yvonne Lockwood, by phone (517-353-9678 or 355-0368), by email (lockwoo2@msu.edu), or write:
The Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is administered by the Michigan State University Museum's Michigan Traditional Arts Program. It was established with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts and is sustained through a partnership with the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. © 2003 Michigan State University |