Folk Arts Apprenticeships
Deadline – September 3
Folk Arts Apprenticeships preserve and pass on Alabama’s living cultural heritage by funding teachers and students as traditional artistic skills and techniques are taught to new practitioners.
Examples of art forms that have been taught in this program include Sacred Harp singing, fiddling, pottery, oak basketry, and artistic traditions of more recent additions to the culture of Alabama, including Vietnamese Lion dance, piñata crafting, and Yoruba drumming.
Samples of work of both the master artist and apprentices are critical to the evaluation of applications. Only one individual, either the master artist or an apprentice, may submit the application and receive grant funds.
Application Process:
Applications are accepted as digital and paper forms, and through the online grants portal at arts.alabama.gov/apply. Applications from master artists must include at least one apprentice form.
Those submitting through our online grants portal do not need to submit a paper application. Deadline for online submission is 5:00 pm CT on September 3.
Requests and Restrictions:
Folk Art Apprenticeship applications may request between $1,000 and $3,000. There is no requirement of the grantee to provide for matching expenses.
After three consecutive years of Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant awards (such as receiving grants in 2022, 2023, and 2024), master artists and apprentices must wait two consecutive years before applying again.
Support Materials:
- Work samples are required from the master artist. Apprentices continuing a previously funded
Folk Arts Apprenticeship must also provide work samples.
- Work samples for craft and visual forms should include 5 to 10 color photographs in good quality.
Applicants working in music or dance should provide an audio or video recording.
Grant Application:
Please contact Anne Kimzey at 334-242-5136 or anne@arts.alabama.gov for assistance with applications.