The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants help communities preserve their cultural heritage through the learning and passing on of traditional arts– including crafts, music, and dance – so that future generations can continue to benefit from them.
Donor Name: New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA)
State: New Hampshire
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/13/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Apprenticeship grants fund a master traditional artist to teach an experienced apprentice in one-to-one sessions for a minimum of 65 hours over a period of six to ten months. Traditional arts are passed down from one generation to the next within communities through observation, conversation, imitation, and practice. They represent a sense of beauty, skills, knowledge, and community values refined over generations and are an important part of the living cultural heritage. Communities can be defined in many ways such as groups that share the same ethnic heritage, language, geographic area, religion, occupation, or way of life.
Funding Priorities
Funding for Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants is awarded on a competitive basis.
- Master Artists and/or Apprentices applying to this program who are not from the community where the tradition emerged will be considered a low priority.
- Applications in traditions in which there is a limited availability of master teachers will be more competitive than those that are widely taught in New Hampshire.
Funding Information
A master artist and apprentice team may apply for a combined total of up to $4,000 per year. Within that amount, the maximum request for the master artist is $3,000 and the maximum request for the apprentice is $1,000.
Grant Period
Projects occurring between November 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.
Eligible Project Expenses
Grant funds may cover:
- Master artist fees for teaching, supplies, and travel essential to the Apprenticeship.
- Apprentice supplies and travel costs essential to the Apprenticeship.
Eligibility Criteria
Traditional artists active in any artistic or cultural expression that can demonstrate there is a community context for the tradition within New Hampshire may apply for a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant. Individuals interested in applying for this grant identify each other and apply together as a team. In some cases, the Heritage and Traditional Arts Coordinator can provide contact information for artists working in a particular traditional art form, but it is up to individuals interested in this grant to contact each other.
- The master artist should:
- Be recognized by their community as an established and mature practitioner of the traditional art form.
- Demonstrate artistic excellence through supporting materials. There is no certification required to be considered a master artist.
- Direct connection and/or involvement to the community where the tradition emerged.
- Be able to express in the application a sincere interest and commitment to teaching the tradition to the proposed apprentice.
- The apprentice should:
- Demonstrate moderate experience and competency in the artistic tradition they want to study. Ideal candidates are those who are beyond the beginner stage but not yet experts, seeking to further refine their abilities.
- Be able to express in the application a sincere interest and commitment to continuing to practice and share the artistic tradition after the completion of the Apprenticeship.
- Direct connection and/or involvement to the community where the tradition emerged.
- Be at least 18 years old.
For more information, visit NHSCA.
