Most apprenticeships in this program will include approximately 80-120 hours of instruction. However, each art form has its own requirements and the lengths of apprenticeships will differ depending on the art form involved. If the art form is traditionally taught in group settings, such as ensemble dance, the master artist should choose a representative from the group to apply as the apprentice. Grant requests for fiscal year 2004 support activities occurring between date of notification (Fall, 2003) and August 31, 2004.
DEFINITIONS
Apprentice
An individual with some experience in a traditional or classical ethnic art
form who is commited to attaining mastery of that art.
Master Artist
An individual who is recognized within his or her community as an exemplary
practitioner of his or her particular traditional or classical ethnic art form.
Ethnic and Folk Arts
Those artistic practices which have a community or family base, express that
community’s aesthetic, heritage and tradition, and have endured through
several generations. These art forms should reflect the particular culture of
the ethnic, language, regional, tribal or nationality group from which they
spring.
Both the master artist and the apprentice must be:
- residents of the state of Illinois for at least 12 months prior to the application deadline
- citizens of the U.S. or holders of permanent resident alien status
As proof of residency, each must submit a copy of one of the following documents:
- Illinois driver’s license which includes the
date issued
and expiration date - State of Illinois ID card
- Illinois state income tax forms for the most recent year
- Voter registration card
Minor applicants (under 18 years of age at time of application) must submit a letter from a parent or legal guardian confirming the minor applicant’s residency at the parent’s or legal guardian’s address. A copy of one of the above listed documents belonging to the parent or legal guardian must accompany the letter.
Master/Apprentice awards are each a fixed amount. Each award will be divided into a $2,000 honorarium for the master artist and a $1000 stipend for the apprentice.
The master artist’s honorarium should be considered compensation for teaching the apprentice. The apprentice’s stipend is to be used for apprenticeship related expenses such as supplies, babysitting and travel. In addition, the apprentice is responsible for documenting the progress of the apprenticeship and should use a portion of the stipend for this purpose. Appropriate documentation is required as part of the project’s Final Report.
Applications to the Master/Apprentice Program will be reviewed by out-of-state jurors and non-voting, in-state specialists selected for their expertise with traditional ethnic and folk arts. Jurors will judge applications by the following criteria:
- artistic quality of both master artist and apprentice as determined by community standards
- traditionality of art form and master artist
- evidence of apprentice’s commitment to the traditional art form
- content and feasibility of work planned for the period of the apprenticeship
- quality and appropriateness of documentation (out-of-focus slides, scratchy tapes and the like are liabilities)
NOTE: Preference will be given to those artists whose work reflects their own heritage.
Priority will be given to apprenticeships that take place outside of institutional settings. Not-for-profit organizations involved in arts programming are encouraged to contact the Illinois Arts Council to obtain information regarding Program Grants for organizations. The Illinois Arts Council will not support an individual’s academic study.