Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative Grants support the passing of traditional artistic and cultural knowledge from mentors to apprentices.
Donor Name: South Carolina Arts Commission
State: South Carolina
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/24/2023
Size of the Grant: $3,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Purpose
Traditional arts are expressions of shared identity that are learned as a part of the cultural life of a particular group. This shared identity may be rooted in family, geographic, tribal, occupational, religious, ethnic, or other connections. As expressions of a living culture, traditional arts are generally handed down from one generation to the next and reflect the shared experience, aesthetics, and values of a group. Traditional arts are dynamic, reflecting change over time and individual innovation over generations of practitioners.
The purpose of this grant is twofold:
- To support mentors who seek to pass their artistic and cultural knowledge to qualified apprentices.
- 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.
Priority
- Priority for funding is given to
- Projects focusing on traditional arts considered to be endangered.
- Applicants who have not been previously funded through the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative. (However, previously funded mentors and apprentices are eligible to re-apply.)
Funding Information
- $3,000 to the mentor and $750 to the apprentice.
- Grant Period: July 1, 2023-May 1, 2024.
Who can Apply?
Traditional artists who meet the requirements of mentors or apprentices.
- All applicants must be legal residents of the U.S. and S.C. with a permanent residence in the state for at least one (1) year prior to the application date and throughout the grant period. Out-of-state mentors may be considered when the expertise required is unavailable in South Carolina; eligibility will be determined by the program director.
- The mentor and the apprentice should belong to the same cultural community or group in which the traditional art form is practiced.
- A mentor
- is held in high regard for their skill, knowledge, and cultural practice by their community through formal or informal recognition
- has attained excellence within their artistic tradition as defined by their cultural community
- expresses an interest and commitment to teaching the tradition to the proposed apprentice
- must be 18 years of age or older as of July 1, 2023
- must not be a degree-seeking student during the grant period
- An apprentice
- demonstrates an interest and basic competency in the art form prior to the apprenticeship (at least one year of relevant experience)
- expresses an interest and commitment to sharing the knowledge learned after the completion of the apprenticeship
- must be 12 years of age or older as of July 1, 2023
- if a prospective apprentice will be under 18 years of age as of July 1, 2023, they must have approval from a parent or legal guardian to apply for this grant; if awarded, the grant contract will be made with the parent or legal guardian, on behalf of the apprentice.
Use of Funds
The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative supports the communication and strengthening of cultural skills and knowledge by providing funds for a mentor to work with an apprentice and assist with the cost of travel, necessary materials, or other expenses relating to the apprenticeship.
For more information, visit South Carolina Arts Commission.
