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Kentucky Arts Council extends reach of Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship, apply by March 15


The Kentucky Arts Council will extend the reach of its Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant this year thanks to special funding from the regional arts organization South Arts.

The arts council, which for 25 years has funded the opportunity for master artists to work with apprentices to pass on folk and traditional art forms, will award additional apprenticeships through an opportunity available to artists who live in counties that are part of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

The arts council is accepting applications for the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant from masters and apprentices who live in any Kentucky county. Additionally, Kentucky-based masters who live in one of the state’s 54 ARC counties are able to seek apprentices in other ARC counties in Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee.

A master artist can practice any traditional art form (music, dance, craft, ceremonial art, storytelling, etc.) learned in his or her community. The $3,000 grants help master folk artists teach the skills, practices and culture of Kentucky’s living traditional arts to less experienced artists who are part of that same creative community.

“We value the mission of our Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant among masters and apprentices Kentucky, but this enhancement from South Arts will allow our master tradition bearers to bring the best of Kentucky folk and traditional art to other states, encouraging more cultural connections across state lines in Appalachia,” said Mark Brown, arts council folk and traditional arts director. “We’re grateful for this partnership with South Arts to help fund this important grant program.”

Kentucky’s ARC counties include: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe.

Master artists and tradition-bearers are exemplary representatives of a folk group’s art forms. Their “master” status is determined by other members of the group. The master artist must excel in the art form and demonstrate an effective teaching plan. The apprentice must possess skill in the art form and the potential to share, teach and continue the art form.

The deadline to apply for these grants is March 15.

For more information, or to apply for the grant, visit the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant page of the arts council’s website; or contact Brown at mark.brown@ky.gov or 502-892-3115


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