Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program

The Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is administered by the Wisconsin Arts Board, the State of Wisconsin’s arts agency. The program is designed to strengthen and encourage the continuity of Wisconsin’s diverse cultural traditions by supporting exemplary traditional artists and culture bearers in passing their skills and knowledge to committed and talented apprentices. The program recognizes that traditional arts are embedded within communities defined by shared ethnicity, language, religion, occupation, recreational pursuit, or geographic region, and that these artistic practices are transmitted across generations as part of a living cultural heritage. The program supports any form of traditional art carried on by members of Wisconsin cultural communities. Eligible art forms range from basketry, beadwork, and instrument building to old time music, ethnic dance, singing, and traditional foodways. Priority is given to apprenticeships that help ensure the continuation of art forms in danger of being lost or that contribute to the preservation of endangered languages. Both the instructing artist and the apprentice must share membership in the relevant cultural community and demonstrate a commitment to preserving and advancing the art form within that community. Maximum awards are 3500 dollars and are made to the instructing artist or to a qualified fiscal receiver on the artist’s behalf. Funds may be used to cover the instructing artist’s fee, supplies and materials required during the apprenticeship, and in some cases travel expenses. Awards are distributed in two payments: 2500 dollars at the start of the apprenticeship and the remaining balance after completion of the required public presentation and acceptance of the final report. For the current fiscal year cycle, the apprenticeship and public presentation must occur within the defined program period, and the final report is due thirty days after the close of that period. Eligibility requirements emphasize artistic excellence and cultural continuity. Mentor or instructing artists must be recognized within their cultural communities as exemplary practitioners held in high regard by their peers. Apprentices must demonstrate prior experience in the proposed art form or a related practice, motivation to deepen their skills and cultural understanding, and a commitment to sustaining the tradition in their community. Apprentices cannot be immediate family members under the age of 18. Returning applicants are not eligible if they have received apprenticeship awards for three consecutive years, but may reapply after a one year break. First time applicants are encouraged to consult with Wisconsin Arts Board staff prior to applying. The Mentor Artist serves as the official applicant and must apply through the Wisconsin Arts Board Online Application System. The application includes questions about the instructing artist, apprentice or apprentices, the traditional art form, its connection to a cultural community, the work plan, a proposed final public presentation, and a budget describing how the 3500 dollar award will be spent. Applicants may submit narrative responses via video or audio recording upon contacting staff in advance. Applications are evaluated based on the traditionality of the art form, artistic quality of the instructing artist’s work, demonstrated commitment and skill of the apprentice, shared cultural membership, feasibility of the work plan, and urgency related to endangered or marginalized art forms or languages. For the current cycle, all applications must be submitted by March 19, 2026, and peer review meetings are held publicly via Zoom, with panel review anticipated in May 2026.

Emphasize the traditionality of the art form artistic excellence of the mentor shared cultural membership feasibility of the work plan and urgency related to endangered or marginalized traditions or languages.