South Carolina Arts Commission | Folklife and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative

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SC Arts Commission Grants for Individual Artists

Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative

How to Apply

If you would like to be considered for an apprenticeship project, please review all of the information below and then contact Julianne Carroll, Program Director for Folklife and Traditional Arts, at jcarroll@arts.sc.gov or 803-734-8764. If it is determined that your project meets the guideline requirements, the program director will work with you to schedule a meeting where the Master Artists and Apprentice will be interviewed. Following the interview she will create a report containing the information you shared during your meeting. With your approval, this report will be submitted as the application to the grants panel for review.

To be considered for this grant, you must contact the program director by January 6, 2012 . The application process must be completed by March 15, 2012 .

Description

The purpose of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative is two-fold: it is meant to support Master Artists who seek to pass their artistic and cultural knowledge to qualified Apprentices and to provide Apprentices with an opportunity to advance their artistic and cultural knowledge to a higher level so that they may continue to pursue the art form beyond the life of the apprenticeship.

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative assists with the communication and strengthening of cultural skills and knowledge by providing funds for a Master Artist's time and assisting an Apprentice with the cost of travel and necessary materials.

All documentation conducted by the program director during the apprenticeship will be deposited in the Folklife Resource Center at McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina.

The Master Artist and the Apprentice are required to:

Work with the program director to ensure that deadlines for all paperwork are met
Work with the program director to establish and adhere to a lesson schedule
Notify the program director of any significant changes to the lesson schedule
Make themselves available to the program director for interviews and documentation of the project

Funding

Award funds of $2,500 will be distributed in the following manner:

The Master Artist will receive $2,000 to compensate for his/her time
The Apprentice will receive $500 to assist with travel and supplies
75% of the award will be given at the beginning of the project
Remaining 25% will be given after final interview and report are submitted to SC Arts Commission and approved by the program director and grants department.

Apprenticeship Period

Apprenticeships may last a maximum of 10 months. All activities must occur between July 1 of the year you apply and May 1 of the following year, leaving time for completion, submission and approval of the final report.

Documentation

Documentation from the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative will be deposited in the Folklife Resource Center at McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina. It will be made available for historical and other academic research and public distribution. Public use of documentation extends only to educational and non-profit uses. We will seek your permission before using your image for any commercial/for profit purpose.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be residents of South Carolina and reside in the state during the apprenticeship period. Applicants must also be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.

Restrictions

Modern interpretations of traditional art and revivals of traditions that have ceased to exist within the originating culture will not be funded.
This program does not support beginning-level students.
Priority for funding is given to projects focusing on traditional arts considered to be endangered.
Apprentice must belong to the same community/folk group as the Master Artist.

Review Process & Criteria

A panel composed of professionals representing the field of folk studies will review and rate the apprenticeship applications on the basis of specific criteria listed in the guidelines. Staff will develop funding recommendations based on results of the panel review. Final funding decisions are approved by the SC Arts Commission's Board of Commissioners.

The review panel will review each Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative application using the review criteria provided. While the narrative questions are based on the review criteria, please be sure to read the criteria and make certain that your application provides the information the panel needs to make an informed decision.

Application Questions

The program director will ask the following questions when she meets with the potential Master and Apprentice team. Please note, while the program director will interview the Master and Apprentice, it is important that you review the questions below so that you are prepared for the interview.

Contact information for both Master and Apprentice.

A. Master Artist

How, where, when, and from whom did s/he learn the traditional art form s/he wishes to teach? How long has s/he been a practitioner of this art form?
What role does this art form play in the Master Artist's life? (do when I can, do as much as possible, etc.
Is the Artist a member of the community/folk group within which the traditional art is practiced?
Describe current significance of the traditional art form in the folk group and any threats to its continued practice.
Since learning the traditional art, has the artist continually practiced it? Please explain if there have been interruptions in the practice.
When and for whom does the artist perform this tradition?
Has the artist previously taught the art form? When? How long? To whom?
What does the artist hope to achieve by teaching his/her traditional art?
Why does the artist believe the person whom he/she plans to teach will make a good Apprentice?

B. Apprentice

What evidence is there to demonstrate that the Apprentice possesses the knowledge and experience needed to learn this traditional art form. (i.e., already learning, assists the Master Artist, family practiced art form, etc.)
What is the relationship of the Apprentice to the Master Artist?
What is the relationship of the Apprentice to the community/folk group within which the traditional art is practiced?
What does the Apprentice hope to achieve through this project?
The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative is intended to help the Apprentice build a solid foundation so that s/he may continue the study of the art form beyond the life of the apprenticeship. How does the Apprentice plan to pursue the study of the art form once the apprenticeship is completed?

Review Criteria (100 total points)

Applicants: Please carefully review this information and keep it in mind as you discuss your work with the program director. The Review Criteria will be used by panel members to review the application and determine the appropriateness of your project.

Master Artist

1. Artistry Indicators (40 points)

The artist is truly a master, recognized as highly skilled within the identified community/folk group and among his/her peers.
The artist's work is of high quality, as demonstrated by support materials.
The Master Artist has gained his/her knowledge, skills, and abilities in a traditional manner.
The Master Artist is appropriately matched with the Apprentice.

2. Managerial Capacity Indicators (10 points)

There is evidence that the Master Artist is capable of effectively teaching his/her art form.

Apprentice

1. Artistry Indicators (20 points)

The Apprentice has the skills that will allow him/her to benefit from the proposed apprenticeship.
The Apprentice has shown him/herself interested in and capable of continuing the practice of the traditional art beyond the period of this apprenticeship.

Overall Project

1. Managerial Capacity Indicators (20 points)

All applicants have shown a commitment to working together to successfully complete this project.
The lesson schedule is feasible and will ensure that the Apprentice will have a significant amount of time with the Master Artist.
The art form being featured in this application is an acknowledged traditional art form authentic to a particular cultural community/folk group.

2. Impact Indicators (10 points)

The project involves and impacts members of the identified community/folk group
There is a demonstrated need for the project; the traditional art may be considered endangered.

Work Plan

Skills – List the skills and techniques that will be taught over the course of the apprenticeship. (For example, what styles will the Apprentice learn, what objects will s/he make, etc.?)
Goals – What goals have the Master Artist and Apprentice agreed to achieve?
Schedule – Please provide the schedule you intend to follow for the length of the apprenticeship. How many days a month, how long each lesson, etc.

Support Materials – will be collected during first interview

Support materials reinforce the information you have provided in your narrative and help the review panel to assess your skills, commitment to the art form, and your community involvement.

Master Artist
- Recordings (audio and/or video), if available
- Photographs of the artist's work or of the Master Artist performing, if available
- Letters of support should be mailed to SCAC program director - Letters of support assist the panel in understanding the Master’s skill level, the likelihood that he/she will be a successful teacher, and his/her involvement in the community.
- Samples of any media coverage (i.e., newspaper articles)

Apprentice
- Recordings (audio and/or video), if available
- Photographs of the Apprentice's work or of the Apprentice performing, if available
- Letters of support should be mailed to SCAC program director - Letters of support assist the panel in understanding the Artist's skill level, the likelihood that the he/she will be a successful teacher, and his/her involvement in the community.
- Samples of any media coverage (i.e., newspaper articles)

Public Component

The Master Artist and Apprentice are encouraged, but not required, to participate in or present an event to which the general public is invited. The purpose of the public component is to introduce the traditional art form to the larger community. Funds awarded by the SC Arts Commission may be used to help create the public event. While the public component is not required, inclusion may result in a stronger application. The public component does not have to be elaborate. As an example, a Master Artist teaching the Apprentice blues guitar may perform at a local venue or festival. Basketmakers may display the work created during the apprenticeship at a local museum or festival. Applicants should consider what type of public program might be appropriate. Please provide a brief description of any public component planned.

Award Payments

Half of the award will be paid upon receipt of all required paperwork (signed contracts, signed payment request, all W-9 forms, etc.). The remaining balance of the award will be paid upon receipt and approval of the final report.

Final Report

At the end of the apprenticeship period, the program director will again meet with both the Master and the Apprentice to review what has been accomplished. A final report will be created based on the discussion and documentation of the work completed (photos, video) will be conducted. The Final Report Due Date is printed on your contract. The program director will work with you to complete the report approximately one month prior to the report due date. Failure to meet with the program director will result in cancellation of the grant award, at which time any funds received must be repaid to the S.C. Arts Commission. The S.C. Arts Commission will not fund applicants who have outstanding final reports.

Instructions

In addition to this page, you must read the following for complete guideline information:

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